When Jeff Hagen was a public art school teacher he spent nearly a month in Kyiv, Ukraine teaching alongside other educators.

In 1977 Hagen spent four weeks in the former Soviet Union, including Ukraine.

He and 25 other educators from Madison, Wis. traveled east to tour Soviet cities and their schools.

Touring cities like Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) and Moscow in the USSR, Hagen said that he found them to be “grim” and tinged with remnants of war — until they went to Kyiv.

Of all the cities they visited, he was most impressed by the capital city Kyiv, with agricultural, vibrant and friendly roots that reminded him of home in the Midwest.

When Ukraine was attacked by Russia earlier this year, Hagen said with those memories in mind he was empathetic toward the situation with Ukraine.

Less than a month after Russian missiles reached Kyiv on Feb. 25, Hagen attended a fundraiser benefit concert for Ukrainian humanitarian efforts at the Brown County Playhouse.

At the benefit in March, Hagen said he was inspired and impressed by how the musicians were using their talent to help those in need thousands of miles away.

“I’m an artist. I thought ‘Why don’t I take my creative talent to donate to the cause?’” he said.

Hagen taught art to kindergarten to college students for more than three decades before moving to Brown County. After relocating to what many call the “Art Colony of the Midwest,” Hagen joined the Brown County Art Guild as an artist member. He also opened a studio on the top floor of the Village Green Building in downtown Nashville.

“This is the best place I’ve ever lived and I’ve been all over the Midwest,” he said.

After attending the benefit at the Playhouse, Hagen was on a mission to help.

While searching online, Hagen found a photo of a Ukrainian soldier looking at an Orthodox church with its steeple blown in the wake of destruction.

The war in Ukraine has been ongoing for more than three months. As of May 24, 6.6 million refugees had fled Ukraine since the war began, according to the United Nations.

One of Hagen’s favorite subject matters is churches. He has an ongoing project of drawing churches in America. He then donates the work to the church he draws.

Seeing the photo of the Orthodox church destroyed by the violence of war, Hagen said he was struck by inspiration and realized how he could help.

He painted a watercolor of the church with the steeple replaced and glowing sunflowers — the nation’s flower — lining the pathway to the building.

“I put the steeple back on top and textured the tumultuous night sky of war swirling around the chapel while still showing the intrinsic spirit and fortitude of the people, (represented by) the sunflowers that are spilling out of and surrounding the church,” Hagen said.

Once his watercolor, titled “Moon Over Mariupol,” was complete Hagen said he reached out to fellow Brown Countian David Hayes who had spoken at the Playhouse benefit.

Hayes lived in Ukraine for several years starting in 1992, a year after the country gained independence from Russia.

He, his wife Michelle and their two children made friends they still talk to today.

At the benefit, Hayes shared some stories from his family’s time in Ukraine, painting a personal and compassionate picture of those affected by the war.

People they encountered in their time in Ukraine showed them how much they loved their country, Hayes said at the benefit.

When Hagen shared his project with Hayes he offered Hagen the opportunity to sell his prints at Michelle’s yarn store The Clay Purl in Nashville. Money from the sales will go towards the humanitarian effort in Ukraine through the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

Michelle said she and her husband are familiar with the organization.

“There are a lot of really great organizations, the way you can volunteer (to help). We particularly use this one because of our familiarity with it,” she said.

When the Hayes family was in Ukraine in the 1990s they helped feed retired citizens as ministers with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. Inflation at the time was high due to the fall of the Soviet Union and Ukrainian money at the time was “worthless,” she said.

Now, NCM is supplying medical supplies to doctors in areas with the most need. Michelle said a friend of theirs has been delivering food all over the country with NCM.

“Wherever it’s needed, even far east into the frontlines,” she said. “It just depends on what the current need is.”

David keeps in touch with friends in Ukraine at least weekly, Michelle said. Women and children have evacuated to Poland, Spain and elsewhere — they know people all over, she continued.

“They’re safe. Of course they want to go home, they want to be with their husbands, fathers and all — but they’re all safe,” she said.

Though NCM is a church-affiliated ministry, Michelle said help is offered to everyone regardless of their beliefs.

As far as how others could help, Hagen said he believes even one person can make a difference.

“None of this is to make money,” he said of his project. “It’s another area of need where I can use my creative talents to help them or make a difference. I’m one person, an artist who created it. You’re one person who can make a difference by buying it.”