Family from Ukraine

This GoFundMe page is being set up for a family that we have been so blessed to share our home with. Anna, her 10-year-old son Yuhor, and her 12-year-old daughter Polina moved into our home on April 24th. Anna and her two children are but three of the 5 million Ukrainian’s that have become refugees since the war in Ukraine began. Fleeing the atrocities occurring in their homeland of Ukraine. Anna was able to leave with her children. But her husband has stayed behind to watch over Anna’s parents.

The Russian military has taken over her beautiful city of Kherson. Throughout the day, Anna is being sent images of bombs going off around her home and loved ones left behind.

On their way out of Ukraine, Anna and her children drove across Ukraine, being stopped at several Russian military checkpoints where much of their belongings were searched, torn through, and destroyed. They were able to enter Hungary, where they spent three days in the airport before being able to leave. With the help of a volunteer, Anna was brought to the United States. Anna enrolled Yehor in the elementary school and Polina in middle school. While the children are at school, Anna tries to make sense of how her “good life” as she says, was turned upside down.

Anna has applied for Temporary Protected Status for herself and her children. She has received notice that they are processing her children’s paperwork but has yet to receive information about her own application. She has been seeking guidance on more permanent housing and resources through other federal agencies but has not found any government support.

In the short time since Anna and her children have arrived in our home, her story has forever changed us. They are enduring a terrible trauma with so many losses, yet together they continue to function with love and attempt to make sense of this nightmare. We are blessed to watch our children all play together, laugh together, and listen to each other’s experiences about school and friendships. Anna and I also have shared stories about our families, friendships and life in general.

I find myself sad and angry at how hard her life has become to keep her children safe. I am angry with the lack of guidance from the federal government and the difficulty in finding a permanent safe home, employment, health care, and other basic necessities that we all take for granted. Other countries have opened their borders and provided assistance, yet In the United States, we have not found any concrete programs to assist the refugees arriving here.

I cannot sit back without doing more.

So this is my ask…

While reading this, think about what it would be like if you were in Anna’s shoes. Help this family by sharing their story and donating funds so they can remain in this country until they can safely return to their beautiful home, family and friends in Ukraine.