Caring for orphans shouldn't be so difficult
Don't be overwhelmed. Be on mission.
Under pre-war conditions, there were more than 100,000 children in State-run orphanages in Ukraine, including more than 3000 in our region. We are being told by government social service agencies and State orphanages that those numbers are already swelling. Our region appears to be on the verge of re-opening previously closed orphanages to accept the influx of children from more affected areas in Central and Eastern Ukraine.
Ninety-two percent of them have a family; they are "social orphans", institutionalized because of poverty, neglect, health, and now, war. We believe an institution is no place for a child; we want them reunited with families or adopted or in loving foster care but those options are on pause right now.
Shade for Children is in full first-aid mode right now, supporting refugees and various refugee centers in our city, providing food parcels for struggling families and foster families, and supplementing resources for the government orphanages near our location.
Crisis Response
Since February 24 Shade for Children has received and distributed more than $65000 in aid across several categories including:
Supporting at-risk families- 35%
Supporting other ministries- -30%
Supporting Ukrainian defenders- -18%
Supporting refugees- 11%
We appreciate your support, your finances, and your prayers. Lives have been saved and blessed because of you!
What YOU can do
We believe there’s no better place for a child than in a happy, secure family.
Your support makes the dream of a family, a reality.
Family Preservation
You can provide services and advocacy to keep families together.
Your support serves families-in-crisis and helps transition institutionalized kids back to their families.
Adoption & Foster Care
You can enable partnerships with churches and NGO’s to advocate for domestic adoption and foster care.
Your support encourages families to adopt or foster, and provides services and support to them when they do.
Safety Nets for OVC
You can mobilize camps and other programs to build relationships with orphaned and vulnerable children.
Your support gives kids relational & social safety nets among churches and communities.
aboutus
Lena is a Ukrainian with more than 20 years of experience in Children's Ministry. She has a Master's Degree in Financial Administration and a Degree in Christian Theology.
Clinton is an American with 16 years of experience in Youth Ministry. He has an MDiv in Pastoral Ministry, an MBA in Nonprofit Mgmt & Social Entrepreneurism, and a graduate certificate in Social Work.
They've been married since 2018 and live in Uzhhorod, Ukraine. They adopted a child in 2022.
GET INVOLVED
because there's no better place for children than a happy, secure home.
An institution is no place for a child.
You're involvement makes a difference.
Pray
You may not be ready to adopt a child or send money to our ministry but we believe prayer makes a difference. We have stories that testify to that truth. We can send you quarterly updates about an orphaned child for as long as we can maintain contact with the child
Donate
Join Us
There are opportunities for small teams and individual internships to serve alongside Shade for Children in Transcarpathia. We love teams that can serve in our camps and we love child develoopment specialist that can train others to serve.. Click below for more information
It takes about $200 a month for fuel and supplies to visit orphanages. A Day camp cost up to $3000/week. Any amount, big or small, enables the work to continue. Shade for Children is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization based in Vicksburg, MS. EIN: 83-4113208.
TESTIMONIALS
Shade for the Children does what I can't do myself... they love and care for orphans and at-risk children... babies and little ones who might not get held or touched, or played with or hugged, all day. They make a difference... please pray for the children, their caretakers, and the volunteers with Shade for the Children who go into the orphanages to love them... and support them when and if you can. I can't go myself... but I can pray for them... and help them go...
Vickie; Atlanta, GA
What an awesome thing to do!
Some organization took some pics of (child 1) when she was younger, plus she and (child 2) both had teachers that gave us pics when we picked them up. They are treasured!!! We only have 6-7 for each one. The youngest photos are from around 4-5 years old.
Sadly, we have nothing for (child 3) that young. Her youngest pic is her referral pic from when she was about 6 years old- with about an inch of hair regrowth after having her head shaved for lice. She was adopted at 15."
Leslie/ Texas/ Adoptive Mother in repsonse to our Yearbook for Orphans Project