Maplewood Artist Starts GoFundMe For Relatives Who Rescued Ukraine Refugees

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — As the conflict caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues into its fourth month, local residents are trying to raise money not only for refugees, but also for people housing those who've escaped.

Recently, a Maplewood artist used a GoFundMe to successfully raise money for Polish relatives who took in 26 Ukrainian women and their children who had "arrived with nothing but the clothes they had on them."

Thanks to support from friends and neighbors, Justyna Stec was able to exceed her original $8,500 goal and raise $12,382.

She wrote on her recent GoFundMe:

"My relatives in Poland (Majdan Królewski and Nowa Dęba) have taken in 26 Ukrainian refugees so far. These women and their children arrived with nothing but the clothes they had on them, plus a few items they could carry since the war forced them to leave everything else behind."

She added, "Each one of them is a wonderful, hardworking individual who had dreams and aspirations for the future. The war means those hopes have been lost together with almost all of their material possessions."

A month ago, after she exceeded the goal, she wrote, " I hope you understand you actually changed other peoples’ lives. Babies are fed, toddlers are walking, adults are doing their best. We’re talking school, jobs, bikes, things we take for granted.

"With your incredible support we signed up kids for school, got all the families health insurance, found jobs for some of the grownups! and helped their Polish hosts. Please read this and feel deep inside that you made an enormous difference."

Read more of her note here.