STANWOOD, Wash. — As Yulia Clack and her husband Nick box up toys for the children of Ukraine, Yulia remembers the words her brother told her as the war that separated her family began.
"We are where we're supposed to be. Each one of us," recalls Yulia.
Yulia's entire family remains in Ukraine as the massive Russian assault continues.
"When the war started, three months in and then six months in, you're still hopeful that there's an end to this soon," she said. "When you feel helpless you don't know what to do."
Shortly after the war started, almost exactly one year ago, Yulia decided to send supplies to her hometown through her church -- using a friend's coffee roastery as a makeshift warehouse. Yulia wound up with nearly 1,000 donations from across the country.
A year later she and Nick are still at it.
"I could never imagine, looking back, being able to see what's been done," said Yulia.
Over the course of the past year people in the Stanwood community and beyond have been able to fill five, 40-foot shipping containers and send them to Ukraine. That's 100 tons.
Yulia and Nick are the first to say they're not the ones who deserve the credit.
"It's our partners, like Matthew 25 Ministries," said Yulia. "It's the regular families donating clothes and supplies. I think it's only possible because of human kindness. That is the greatest miracle we have seen."
The church donated a gutted 13,500-square-foot building to be used as a makeshift warehouse for the community's growing relief efforts.
In December, they were able to ship 400 Christmas boxes to the children of Ukraine. They're hoping to make it an annual event.
"People want to help people and it's been incredible to witness it, even in such dark times," saiid Yulia.
Yulia and Nick traveled to Ukraine to personally deliver supplies. Yulia walked the streets of her hometown, heartsick, in a bulletproof vest.
"Home is supposed to feel safe," she said. "Going home and not feeling safe is hard to take."
But during their stay, the sting of war was soothed by an old man accepting a bag of food.
"He said, 'I wanted to thank you for not forgetting us. We thought we were forgotten by God and people. You are proof that we are not.'"
Yulia and Nick are now scaling back their donation efforts -- believing they'll do more good with their expertise in shipping and logistical coordination.
A year into the war, with no end in sight, they believe that is where they're supposed to be.
"We're here for a reason and we have a chance to help. A year later we're still hopeful," Yulia said.