When war broke out, two Michiganders dropped everything and flew to Poland

HARBOR SPRINGS — When the war in Ukraine began in February, some people took action by raising money and awareness. Others, like Julie Bacon and Sujo Offield, went a step further. They made their way to Krakow, Poland, to help in person.

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Bacon is a retired social worker for the state of Michigan living in Harbor Springs. She has spent her retirement traveling the world, including spending every winter in Mae Sot, Thailand, teaching English to refugees from Myanmar.

After seeing the devastation in Ukraine, Bacon tried to find an agency that would place her as a volunteer to help the displaced. But she couldn't find one.

“I decided I was just going to go," she said. "I wanted to first work at the World Central Kitchen, which was right inside Poland, because everyone was coming from Kiev. That's where the need was, but at that particular place, you just couldn't find room.

“So then, I just got on a map and I said, ‘Hey, where could I go?’ And I said, ‘I'll go to Krakow.’ I've been to Krakow twice, so I know the city a little bit. I was comfortable being there and, at that time, most of the refugees were going to Warsaw or Krakow. So I thought, ‘Well, I'll just go over there because I know I can find something to do.’”

Bacon asked her friends to join. Offield got the message and ultimately decided to go.

“I finally one day was walking along the water's edge," Offield said. "I was down in the Caribbean, and I look out and they were having these sailboat races. I saw this great, big, red boat with a Ukrainian flag on it and I'm like, ‘OK, that's my sign.'"

She cut her trip short and flew home to Harbor Springs, repacked her bag and left for Poland.

The two found work at the Krakow Train Station, cutting fruit and making sandwiches for people staying in a makeshift camp.

“They're just so lost, they had to leave their homes," Bacon said. "A lot of them didn't have any money."

Bacon and Offield raised money in addition to volunteering. They were able to fund living space in a hotel for those fleeing the conflict, help fund another volunteer’s effort to provide more fruit for refugees, provide money for medical supplies and help fund a car that being converted for troops.

“Giving money is wonderful and can make a difference if it gets into the right hands, which we tried to make sure it did," Offield said. "Hands-on is much more (of an) emotional roller coaster and fulfilling."

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Offield stayed in Poland for two weeks before returning home. Bacon stayed for three weeks, came home for three weeks and then returned for another two weeks.

On Oct. 26, Bacon spoke at North Central Michigan College as part of an international lecture series. She shared photos of her work and the refugees and discussed her experience.

One group of volunteers stuck with Bacon — high-school-age Polish scouts and scout leaders.

“I would say to them, ‘I'm so proud of how Poland is stepping up for Ukraine,’ and they weren't mad but they'd say ‘You don't understand Russia.’ That was their response — (that) if (the west) understood Russia (they) would do even more than they're doing," she said.

“They've heard the stories — parents, grandparents being under Russian control. They don't want it and they're worried that if Russia takes over Ukraine, they're going to be next.”

“So many mothers and children, so many. It was mind blowing all the time,” Offield said. “The stories we heard were just horrific and trying to find some normality once I got back was difficult. So one of the things I wanted to keep in mind is that this is still going on, it’s always going on.”

Offield is considering returning to Europe with an organization called Yacht Aid Global.

“They're going to need help long after the war is over,” she said.

Bacon also said she would consider returning to Europe.

“We have to help each other," she said. "I think (volunteering) is just the best thing you can do with your life."

— Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @Tess_Petoskey.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Harbor Springs' Offield, Bacon reflect on time with Ukrainian refugees