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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC () – Three years ago the war in Ukraine officially began and the conflict continues today with no end seemingly in sight.
A Lowcountry couple has dedicated their time and money to help refugees and those still holding on in the war zone.
Craig Anderson and Inga Renee talk to people in Poland and Ukraine or refugees here in the states, several times a week.
They said the damage they have seen and talk about is unimaginable. They are all now just holding on to hope, for peace.
“This war was not started by Ukraine. It was not provoked by Ukraine. This was provoked by Vladimir Putin,” Anderson said.
Anderson has strong feelings about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In part because he and his wife Reene, a Polish native, have been living it through their connections with some of the people they know still in the region.
“We see a picture of a damaged building, but we need to remember there’s people living in that building,” Anderson said.
Anderson and Renee currently help seven different families through the HHI 4 Ukraine charity.
“We have two families in the U.S., one in Chicago, one in Georgia,” Renee said. “Three families in Ukraine, Elena, Alexandra and Natalia. Two of them live in Kiev. The other one lives in Odessa. They all have kids. And then we have two families in Poland.”
Many of those families, mothers and children getting badly needed supplies and money in ukraine.
“The power goes in and out four hours a day. I mean, four hours on, four hours off,” explains Anderson. “It’s cold in Ukraine. So, we had to figure out how can we get a generator there? What kind of generator can she have? “
While was talking to the couple, they got a call. A Facetime video of a rally in Poland with people marching, asking for peace and rallying the country to stay unified.
Its a call for help and freedom that echoes all the way to Hilton Head Island.
“History is history,” Renee said. “It’s going in a circle. He (Putin) will not stop there. He’ll be back in Poland.”
Anderson said, “I think one of the fears of people who live is if there is a cease fire, it is going to only embolden Russia, give them a chance to rearm.”
For now, Anderson and Renee just make calls, check on their families, look at pictures of happier times and try to stay positive.
Hoping that the people they know will return to their home, their country, and that better days are ahead.
“I want to see this country and I don’t care if it’s destroyed right now,” Anderson said. “I just want to see it, spend time in their country because I think it’s important for me to be there to see and observe what has happened.”
“I have fears, but I’m still spend every day hoping that everything is going to be okay,” said Renee. “That they have something kind of like an angel on their shoulder.”
If you would like to find out more about their humanitarian efforts click here.