When I was directed to Krzysztof’s place I was only told the address and to go to Pan Krzysztof’s. I was given no name of an organization and no indication of what happened there beyond his connection to helping refugees. It turns out this is actually quite common with many of the places I’ve visited, there’s no name, nothing formal because they set up so quickly, they’re just known by their address. But it turns out that Pan Krzysztof does also have his own one man foundation, called Fundacja Nidaros (fundacjanidaros.org) which he set up long before the war started. He is a builder who employees Ukrainians and has, for years, been helping them come to Poland to work. His foundation helps process their papers and arrange living spaces for them among other things. Since the war started, he moved to a bigger space- and office front on a busy street- that can house about 50 refugees at any given time. Food, shelter is provided. He is a central point of contact for many who are going beyond Poland and can take refugees with them. He arranges transportation and he also drives into Ukraine to distribute medical supplies, generators, clothing, and supplies for bullet proof vests for the Ukrainian territorial army.
When I entered that building, knowing nothing about the place, and only asking for Pan Krzysztof he greeted me with an infectious energy and smile, and an incredible generosity of time and spirit - and food. I am not unique, he greets everyone in this way. We were interrupted countless times, he is the man everyone comes to for everything, he sleeps very little, because he says that’s how he’s always been- and now even less. He says he may run home to shower and close his eyes for a couple of hours, but he is immediately back. And especially at night, because he says that’s when the difficult questions come. When it’s quiet. The Ukrainians staying there, come when he’s alone and ask when it will be over, how long they can stay, where they will go, how this will all end. The questions that have no answers but are impossible to not keep asking.
Krzysztof was heading to Mariupol on the day after I visited. This is the truck he drives. He said he normally doesn’t keep in touch with anyone on these trips, but I’ve noticed that he’s updating his stories on Instagram (@chawrona)- the last update was that he was getting shot at and it was too dangerous to continue. The Ukrainian army had him in their care and he was waiting for morning, to either continue or turn back.
There were so many baby items heading into Ukraine.
Four guys from England came through the same night I first stumbled into Fundacja Nidaros. Former firefighters, some of them, they drove from the UK withe supplies for which they’d raised money. They gave many supplies to Krzysztof’s foundation and bought him a generator to take with him on his trip into Ukraine the next day. They spent the night and that morning re packed their van for items they took to Medyka - the busiest Poland/Ukraine border crossing- which would also then get taken to facilities within Ukraine.
Coordinating deliveries and needs.
A play room set up in Fundacja Nidaros. This mom was there with her five children. Her husband was also there. I was told men of fighting age were allowed out of the country if the family was too big for a single mom to care for on her own.
A living space in Fundacja Nidaros. I wasn’t able to speak with these women beyond asking if it was ok if I could take their picture.
Another living space.
Elina, came to Krakow from Ukraine a couple of years ago and now helps out at Fundacja Nidaros. She is putting away groceries from a donation they received.
Elina came to Krakow a couple of years ago with her husband and two children. She now helps out with the incoming refugees at Krzysztof’s.
Patrycja runs a bistro called Palce Lizac (@bistrosiepraw) just south of Krakow about 20km, in Siepraw. She continues to run her own restaurant and has now included cooking for about 60 refugees who are housed in her town. They all have different accommodations, some live with individual families, while others live in larger groups in donated spaces- like the tiny ski hotel that has given its space to 27 individuals. Patrycja cooks for as many as needed. So far, she has spent her own money on everything- she gets some help from places like Soup for Ukraine - but cooks more than just soup for each meal and also adds to the soup she gets.
We talked about how the Polish people have risen to this occasion but there is a real concern that it won’t and can’t be sustainable. The government has to step in and help because individuals won’t be able to maintain this level of time and financial commitment. I wondered if the government wasn’t feeling an urgency to step in because the people had done such a good job of taking on the refugees, but she is generous and says it doesn’t really have the money to help that much and it is waiting on assistance from the EU and the US.
She has resorted to her own fundraising strategies. A facebook auction group was created where people bid on things that others are selling. In her case, she bakes cakes, and announces that she’s auctioning them to raise funds and is able to get a bit of money that way.
The money raised goes towards food and supplies for refugees. Another issue is not just raising money for them, but helping them find work. Patrycja also employs some Ukrainian refugees in her restaurant. I met Lena and her daughter in the car when they picked me up. Lena is in Siepraw with her two children and her husband is in Ukraine fighting. She works at the restaurant in the afternoons and also bakes cakes. Patrycja gives her all the money from those cakes that are sold in Palce Lizac or other restaurants.
Lena’s daughter, Kasia and her brother. All three live with a Polish woman in Siepraw. They sit in their makeshift bedroom, which is actually the dining room.
Lena sits in the kitchen of the woman she and her children live with. Next to her is a meal that’s been prepared and delivered to the refugees in Siepraw.
Lena with the woman she and her family live with. They both expressed feeling lucky they found each other. This is a fortunate situation because many refugees are unwilling to move to places outside of the city because they’re concerned about being isolated and on top of that the possibility that they could find themselves in an incompatible situation with their host.
Lunch made by Patrycja for the refugees living in a ski lodge called Zajazd pod Sloncem (Inn under the Sun). In this particular place, there are 27 people, 15 of those are adults.
The former ski rental area now converted into a dining and play room.
Shelves are now filled with snacks and children’s toys.
Laundry hangs outside of Zajazd pod Sloncem.
This baby was born one week before the war started.
Of the 27 people at Zajazd pod Sloncem, all are women and children except for one older man that was above the age limit for being required to stay in Ukraine.
Another small hotel that houses refugees.
Children play outside.