Family displaced due to the Parmer Ln fire

On a hot evening of August 8th, 2023, a wonderful family of 4 was looking at a burning building and realizing that they had lost everything. A sudden fire hit Bexley Apartments on Parmer Ln, forcing people out to the street with little to no personal items. Unfortunately, several apartments burnt down to ashes in a matter of hours.

Vitaly, Marina, Maxim (17), and Artem (11) have been living in the Austin area since early 2022; this hard-working family was rushed to leave Eastern Europe due to the ongoing war and political tensions. Last year, they arrived with just a few suitcases to begin a new chapter in the US. Vitaly has been working two jobs to support his family, while Marina has been intensively learning English and helping the kids to adapt to new schools and environments. As recent immigrants, they were impressed with the Texas hospitality and support they received from their community. Unfortunately, everything they’ve bought, earned, and saved in 1.5 years got destroyed overnight, and they need to start from scratch again.

The family is now temporarily residing at a friend’s house and looking for an affordable place to live. As you can imagine, they are facing lots of unexpected expenses, including but not limited to:

- Clothing and personal hygiene products

- Furniture, cookware, bedding, misc. household items

- Textbooks, educational materials, and other school supplies

- Food

- Routine medications

- Etc.

They have filed a claim with the insurance company, but the payout amount and timing remain unclear. In the meantime, school is starting next week for both kids, and Vitaly needs to return to work immediately. While they are fortunate to be alive and safe, they may need professional mental health support to navigate this horrible disaster.

Please help this strong family remain resilient in a crisis– every contribution matters.

Thank y’all in advance for your generosity and kindness.

Nataly Yagur

(family friend)