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Feed 144 families each week at Open Hands Pantry in Zaporizhzhia

Help keep a free food pantry open for neighbors in need in Zaporizhzhia.

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Polina Popov
Email verifiedPhoto verified
Zaporizhzhia
Since 2019, our volunteer team has run Open Hands Pantry every Sunday from the back of a community center. We started with 13 families, and now we feed 144 each week. Donations have dropped by about 35% this summer, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 12 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Zaporizhzhia market and keep every receipt. Each $5 feeds a family of four for a week. All of the funds go to groceries, fresh produce, and cold-storage costs. Where the $750 goes: • Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $290 • Fresh vegetables and fruit: $220 • Baby formula and diapers: $145 • Refrigeration and electricity: $95 Thank you so much.

Updates from Polina

  1. We're at 36% thanks to 7 of you. the plan for baby formula and diapers is now scheduled. More news soon.

  2. Small update. $90 so far, the plan for fresh vegetables and fruit is now scheduled.

  • Tao Guo Yao 🇦🇺 · $20
  • Songül Türk 🇹🇷 · $25
  • Zainab Farah Mahmoud 🇪🇬 · $20

    “You got this - Aswan”

  • Anonymous 🇷🇺 · $25

    “Wishing you the best. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Moscow”

  • Funmilayo Amaka Oyelaran 🇳🇬 · $25

    “Wish I could do more. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Ogbomosho”

  • Novelette S. Johnson 🇯🇲 · $15

    “Only $15 but hope it helps. - Half-Way Tree”

  • Edilene Patrícia Souza 🇧🇷 · $38

    “Hope it all works out. Thought of Polina all day after reading this. - São Paulo”

  • Hana Zahra Rahman 🇪🇬 · $128

    “Thinking of you. - 6th of October City”

  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $20
  • Anonymous 🇵🇰 · $25
  • Oluwaseun Yetunde Jimoh 🇳🇬 · $20
  • Adrian W. Tran 🇺🇸 · $25

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  • praying for you, Polina. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes.

    • stay strong, Polina. I hope things turn around soon. I hope November is when things finally get easier

      • Hope things get better soon, Polina. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes.

        • how is Polina doing now?

          • Wishing you peace. Gave what I could, wish it was more. My husband and I read this together. Take care

            • Is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Polina.

              • Polina PopovOwnerAnswerPhoto verified

                It's all in the list in the story. rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale) is the big one at $290, I'll post a receipt when it's paid. Thanks for looking so closely.

            • Sending good thoughts. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. After 8 years in nursing I know how hard it's to ask for anything.

              • more neighborhoods should do this. Thinking of Zaporizhzhia

                • Can I help in a way that isn't money? I'm near Zaporizhzhia

                  • Polina PopovOwnerAnswerPhoto verified

                    Thank you. If you're in Zaporizhzhia I'll say if something practical comes up. For now sharing this is great. Thanks, that means a lot.

                • Best of luck, Polina. Shared this with my family. Blessings.

                  • Best of luck. More neighborhoods should do this. Please keep us posted. All the best.

                    • Take care, Polina. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Love from Quezon City.

                      • Yana Kateryna MorozovPhoto verified

                        Hope things get better soon, Polina. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Don't give up!

                        • Neha J. TrivediID verified

                          best of luck, Polina. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did.

                          • It takes guts to ask. Well done. Put this on a community board in Osaka this morning. Take care.

                            • Projects like this are what make a place worth living in. This is the second need I've supported on here and the first that made me cry. Greetings from Thika.

                              • Best of luck, Polina. Great idea, hope you get there. I hope November is when things finally get easier. Love from Mecca.

                                • Thanks for sharing this. Projects like this are what make a place worth living in. I have a 9 year old who wants to send good wishes too. Blessings

                                  • everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Love from Girona

                                    • Rooting for you, Polina. Your post was clear and honest. Read this on the bus and kept thinking about it all day.

                                      • I hope things turn around soon. This is the second need I've supported on here and the first that made me cry. Love from Manila.

                                        • Hope it all works out. It takes guts to ask. Well done. Please keep us posted. Love from Santa Fe

                                          • Thinking of you, Polina. More neighborhoods should do this. Don't be hard on yourself for asking. Take care.

                                            • rooting for you, Polina. Your post was clear and honest. God bless.

                                              • Take care, Polina. Hope this works out for you. My late mom used to say help given quietly counts double. Love from Pune

                                                • Your post was clear and honest. I hope November is when things finally get easier. God bless.

                                                  • Good luck, Polina. Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. My neighbor in Mumbai donated after I showed her your page. Greetings from Mumbai

                                                    • Kaylee AndrewsID verified

                                                      sending good thoughts, Polina. Great idea, hope you get there.

                                                      • Rooting for you. Shared this with my family. Thinking of Zaporizhzhia

                                                        • Take care. Looking forward to the next update. We lost years of savings to something like this so I get it.

                                                          • A colleague of mine might know someone for this in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. I'll ask around and let you know.

                                                            • Scarlett A. GreenPhoto verified

                                                              Hope it all works out, Polina. Shared it with a few friends. This is the second need I've supported on here and the first that made me cry. Take care.

                                                              • Hope it all works out, Polina. I hope things turn around soon. God bless.

                                                                • Thinking of you. Shared this with my family. Take care

                                                                  • Stay strong, Polina. Your post was clear and honest. Blessings.

                                                                    $386 raised of $750

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