Cousins Helping Cousins
Donation protected
Christian Rooney, a member of our team (my sister’s nephew studying in Poland) has offered this summary for those with limited time:
“Please support our cousins finding refuge from the war in Ukraine. Just like millions of other Ukrainians, they now find themselves fleeing their once peaceful, now war-ravaged homeland. During this stressful time, we need your help with funding their journey to the US, as well as their everyday expenses. Since the Ukrainian currency is now worthless, they need our help now more than ever. Any amount will help them. Thank you for your generous act of kindness.”
The detailed, chronological story starts here and begins when our first family of 4 crossed the border at the onset of war:
Friends and family have been so incredibly caring asking how to help Rich & Katie’s cousins get here from Ukraine. While most of the family remain in Ukraine, Vitali his wife Oksana, son 10 & daughter 7, crossed the border into Poland and were given shelter at a church and support by local families.
During the day Oksana helps cook, clean, care for children, and prepare rooms for other refugees arriving daily, while Vitalii works to get women and children, still in Ukraine, to safety. Two days ago he completed a 10 hour-round trip to Warsaw to help a family friend and her baby traveling alone. As of this writing, 4 more family members women & children are making their way on a dangerous trek to the border directly through the most ravaged areas. Pray for them.
We speak to Vitalii, Ocsana and others daily and they remain positive for the children but are exhausted. We have no idea how long it will take to get them to the U. S. but I have started this Gofundme as a travel fund, to get them here, as the countries bordering Ukraine are flooding with people in need, and our extended family in the U.S. are their only relatives outside Ukraine. I believe they are in a good position to receive travel approval based on conversations with senators office, but in the event of unforeseen obstacles, the funds will be used to help 8 people with basic necessities in a safe location until they can return to Ukraine. Their hearts and homes are in Ukraine.
I will provide chronological updates here. Funds raised will go directly to flights, travel, and necessities while they regroup and rest with us. Once they arrive, we will help them with clothing, and food while they are hosted here until they are able to rest & return safely. It is our hope that we can give the children & adults a chance to decompress after the trauma of fleeing everyone and everything they’ve known in their beloved country.
Vitalii and Oksana awakened hearing bombs and left with less than an hour's notice and managed to get out as a family unit before men and boys 18-60 were asked to stay behind to defend the country. As you can imagine, they are extremely concerned for the rest of their family. A core group stayed and bravely defend their land, homes and futures in Ukraine.
Our sweet Olya, mostly responsible for making the family connection, staying at our home in 2016, is a remarkable young woman protecting her town with her new husband, father and other brother. She told me she will remain alongside her husband. Her words to me “It’s final, I’m staying and taking care of my guys!” She’s an unbelievable person with a caring soul and big heart. Please send prayers her way. The family all said they feel so much love and appreciation for our family and community for our open hearts.
Thank you, and if you reached out to me to contribute financially, this is the place. We will be working with friends & family to organize other donations such as clothing, personal toiletries, and food gift cards. We are unbelievably grateful to you for your love and support. Thank you for reading and sharing this difficult family journey. Hugs and gratitude to all, Trina, Rich & Katie
UPDATE: March 7- This day concluded a 3 day journey for 4 more family members meeting Vitali and his family over the border. A grandma, mom & 2 small girls. To cross to safety, travelers go through waiting in long lines, failed attempts at transportation and ever changing plans. Bus ride, walking through woods, and train rides fully packed, standing room only. Avoiding targets on civilians. Leaving family members behind.
UPDATE March 8- Our travelers got one nights rest and they are trying to move west a bit to make space and get resources as other refugees flood into the area. The country they are in has a growing humanitarian crisis with 1.5 million and more fleeing Ukraine. They are smart to be on the move because the resources will be thin, expectations of food shortages and lack of medical and other supplies expected.Our eight travelers check in regularly. They are tired but feel glad to travel together as a family, heading west.
UPDATE March 9 - 10 Vitali and the family are so grateful and encouraged by our efforts and continue to express the feeling of hope to get to us. We are overwhelmed by the love and support we are getting for their family and children. We are speaking with community groups to be able to connect with other families helping relatives both in and out of Ukraine. This evening, Rich, Katie and I spoke at this community event below:
Katie shared the story of how we first connected with Olya, how we had her visit us, and memories from our NYC adventure together. Olya made Katie cupcakes for her 13th birthday, we brought everyone to the Statue of Liberty and saw the family name on the wall at Ellis Island.
Rich shared the story of his great grandparents who were starved to death in Ukraine by Stalin during the Holodomor. History repeats itself. We must learn, and never forget.
We pray for Olya, her new husband, brother, father, grandfather, aunts and uncles still in Ukraine ❤️ We hope this senseless, unprovoked war ends soon. The Ukrainian people are a peaceful people. This is an unjust war they never wanted.
UPDATE- March 12 We are in touch with our travelers and spoke via video call with them and the Red Cross. A lovely translator, volunteer is working with us and making sure the family’s immediate needs are met. We said hello to the children and they got to practice some basic greetings in English saying “hi” to our pet therapy dog, Henry. Those in Ukraine remain strong and committed to defending their democracy and freedom for the entire family. They are resilient in the face of unbelievable conditions.
Christian Rooney, studying at University in Warsaw is part of our team on the ground in Europe. He is our go to resource for understanding the real crisis from first hand point of view. Here is Christian’s explanation of trouble near their village a week ago. Thank you for your daily updates and support, Christian.
The news article discussing Rich, Katie and I speaking in Avon CT to bring awareness of the crisis to our community.
We talk to our travelers every day…
There is work to do for our travelers in the woman’s Catholic monastery that’s become a refugee shelter while they wait. They work the industrial ironing machines perhaps as bartered payment for their stay.
We keep in daily touch with family members in Ukraine, they are brave, working day in and day out, and all still safe as of this writing 3-23-22.
“Please support our cousins finding refuge from the war in Ukraine. Just like millions of other Ukrainians, they now find themselves fleeing their once peaceful, now war-ravaged homeland. During this stressful time, we need your help with funding their journey to the US, as well as their everyday expenses. Since the Ukrainian currency is now worthless, they need our help now more than ever. Any amount will help them. Thank you for your generous act of kindness.”
The detailed, chronological story starts here and begins when our first family of 4 crossed the border at the onset of war:
Friends and family have been so incredibly caring asking how to help Rich & Katie’s cousins get here from Ukraine. While most of the family remain in Ukraine, Vitali his wife Oksana, son 10 & daughter 7, crossed the border into Poland and were given shelter at a church and support by local families.
During the day Oksana helps cook, clean, care for children, and prepare rooms for other refugees arriving daily, while Vitalii works to get women and children, still in Ukraine, to safety. Two days ago he completed a 10 hour-round trip to Warsaw to help a family friend and her baby traveling alone. As of this writing, 4 more family members women & children are making their way on a dangerous trek to the border directly through the most ravaged areas. Pray for them.
We speak to Vitalii, Ocsana and others daily and they remain positive for the children but are exhausted. We have no idea how long it will take to get them to the U. S. but I have started this Gofundme as a travel fund, to get them here, as the countries bordering Ukraine are flooding with people in need, and our extended family in the U.S. are their only relatives outside Ukraine. I believe they are in a good position to receive travel approval based on conversations with senators office, but in the event of unforeseen obstacles, the funds will be used to help 8 people with basic necessities in a safe location until they can return to Ukraine. Their hearts and homes are in Ukraine.
I will provide chronological updates here. Funds raised will go directly to flights, travel, and necessities while they regroup and rest with us. Once they arrive, we will help them with clothing, and food while they are hosted here until they are able to rest & return safely. It is our hope that we can give the children & adults a chance to decompress after the trauma of fleeing everyone and everything they’ve known in their beloved country.
Vitalii and Oksana awakened hearing bombs and left with less than an hour's notice and managed to get out as a family unit before men and boys 18-60 were asked to stay behind to defend the country. As you can imagine, they are extremely concerned for the rest of their family. A core group stayed and bravely defend their land, homes and futures in Ukraine.
Our sweet Olya, mostly responsible for making the family connection, staying at our home in 2016, is a remarkable young woman protecting her town with her new husband, father and other brother. She told me she will remain alongside her husband. Her words to me “It’s final, I’m staying and taking care of my guys!” She’s an unbelievable person with a caring soul and big heart. Please send prayers her way. The family all said they feel so much love and appreciation for our family and community for our open hearts.
Thank you, and if you reached out to me to contribute financially, this is the place. We will be working with friends & family to organize other donations such as clothing, personal toiletries, and food gift cards. We are unbelievably grateful to you for your love and support. Thank you for reading and sharing this difficult family journey. Hugs and gratitude to all, Trina, Rich & Katie
UPDATE: March 7- This day concluded a 3 day journey for 4 more family members meeting Vitali and his family over the border. A grandma, mom & 2 small girls. To cross to safety, travelers go through waiting in long lines, failed attempts at transportation and ever changing plans. Bus ride, walking through woods, and train rides fully packed, standing room only. Avoiding targets on civilians. Leaving family members behind.
UPDATE March 8- Our travelers got one nights rest and they are trying to move west a bit to make space and get resources as other refugees flood into the area. The country they are in has a growing humanitarian crisis with 1.5 million and more fleeing Ukraine. They are smart to be on the move because the resources will be thin, expectations of food shortages and lack of medical and other supplies expected.Our eight travelers check in regularly. They are tired but feel glad to travel together as a family, heading west.
UPDATE March 9 - 10 Vitali and the family are so grateful and encouraged by our efforts and continue to express the feeling of hope to get to us. We are overwhelmed by the love and support we are getting for their family and children. We are speaking with community groups to be able to connect with other families helping relatives both in and out of Ukraine. This evening, Rich, Katie and I spoke at this community event below:
Katie shared the story of how we first connected with Olya, how we had her visit us, and memories from our NYC adventure together. Olya made Katie cupcakes for her 13th birthday, we brought everyone to the Statue of Liberty and saw the family name on the wall at Ellis Island.
Rich shared the story of his great grandparents who were starved to death in Ukraine by Stalin during the Holodomor. History repeats itself. We must learn, and never forget.
We pray for Olya, her new husband, brother, father, grandfather, aunts and uncles still in Ukraine ❤️ We hope this senseless, unprovoked war ends soon. The Ukrainian people are a peaceful people. This is an unjust war they never wanted.
UPDATE- March 12 We are in touch with our travelers and spoke via video call with them and the Red Cross. A lovely translator, volunteer is working with us and making sure the family’s immediate needs are met. We said hello to the children and they got to practice some basic greetings in English saying “hi” to our pet therapy dog, Henry. Those in Ukraine remain strong and committed to defending their democracy and freedom for the entire family. They are resilient in the face of unbelievable conditions.
Christian Rooney, studying at University in Warsaw is part of our team on the ground in Europe. He is our go to resource for understanding the real crisis from first hand point of view. Here is Christian’s explanation of trouble near their village a week ago. Thank you for your daily updates and support, Christian.
The news article discussing Rich, Katie and I speaking in Avon CT to bring awareness of the crisis to our community.
We talk to our travelers every day…
There is work to do for our travelers in the woman’s Catholic monastery that’s become a refugee shelter while they wait. They work the industrial ironing machines perhaps as bartered payment for their stay.
We keep in daily touch with family members in Ukraine, they are brave, working day in and day out, and all still safe as of this writing 3-23-22.
Organizer
Katherine (Trina) Cardinal
Organizer
Simsbury, CT
