BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – New data from the United Nations refugee agency shows at least five million Ukrainians have fled their country since the start of Russian invasion. That’s about 11% of the country’s population.

More than half of those refugees went to the neighboring country of Poland seeking shelter.

It’s why Melbourne First of Nazarene Church Sr. Pastor Joel Tooley went to Poland to help. Tooley has previously helped refugees from Haiti, Central America and Syria and said he saw a lot of similarities between them and the Ukrainian refugees.

“What was visibly clear was how emotionally and physically exhausted they were having this blank stare of an empty vessel,” he said.

Through Mosaic Compassion, Tooley was able to provide aid to the refugees and consultation on how future volunteers can continue to help the refugees.

“[The church of Nazarene] has a presence in 160 countries around the world, so for us to network in a small basis is really, really easy for us to find places throughout Europe,” he said.

He said they would first provide vital information to the refugees, such as how to navigate to safety. Tooley and the rest of the nonprofit volunteers stayed in Przemsyl, a southeastern town in Poland with a train station that’s also only 10 miles from Ukraine.

“They don’t know where they’re going,” he said. “They’re fleeing a war. They get to Poland and know they’re safe, but don’t know where to go next.”

Tooley said they were also able to create what he called “The Hub” while he was there. He said it’s a place where volunteers can receive help after spending their day helping traumatized refugees.

“There wasn’t an infrastructure in place to help the volunteers find a place to stay,” Tooley said.

Through the entire experience, Tooley saw a glimmer of light and hope through the cloud of destruction. 

“As horrible as the situation was, it was actually kind of beautiful to see everyday humans respond to their neighbors, people they’ve never met and don’t even share a language with take the next step to find a place of safety.”

The nonprofit is now sending emergency kits, similar to those used in Central Florida during hurricanes, and collecting monetary donations to help the refugees.