WESTFIELD – Full Gospel Church raised $3,162 with a combination car wash and bake sale fundraiser May 14 to benefit Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion and refugees who have arrived in Western Massachusetts.

A constant line of cars could be seen in the church’s parking lot on Union Street as volunteers sprayed water and soap and dried vehicles with rags for donations. At the end of the car wash one could buy a treat at the bake sale.

Full Gospel Church volunteer Tanya Shut said that the church had already sent 11 shipping containers to Poland filled with donations and basic supplies for the military and refugees. Just days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, the predominantly Ukrainian church got to work collecting donations, which turned into a logistics operation of its own.

As the humanitarian crisis has unfolded and worsened, the focus of the church’s efforts has shifted from mostly sending supplies to Ukraine to helping refugee families who have made their way to Western Massachusetts. Many Ukrainians and Russians left their home countries in the 1990s and early 2000s and resettled in the area thanks to local organizations that served as refugee sponsors. As such, some refugees are coming here because they already have family here.

“Every week we have had one or two new families,” said Shut.

They are now seeking donations of things like furniture and basic house supplies while they secure housing for the families that arrive.