From Ukraine-Germany - Starting a New, Safe Life

Putin stole their lives. Their beloved city of Kharkiv.

In early March, I connected with Oksana via WhatsApp while on the train home from Heidelburg on a little trip with my baby cousin Grace. It was a total gamble, but the horrors in Ukraine compelled me to search for a family with children and dogs to take refuge in our extra bedroom at our home in Germany.

I thought - what would we do if we were in the same situation?

Where would I take my daughters and children if Aaron had to defend the place we lived for the right not to be taken over by a dictator?

And it's been lovely and one of the most worthwhile things we've ever done.

Easy, no.

But now we have good friends for life and they are safe.

Lovely Oksana the grandmother, tough Oksana the mom and curious Milana the 8 year old who always wants to play, plus Forsa the sweet pit bull.

Their home, Kharkiv, is only 20 miles from the Russian border and even today under shelling and missile attack. The countryside is mined, and both Oksanas do not want to return yet.

But it's time for them to move on to their apartment 3 months after getting here to Germany, and I want to help them get set up in their new apartment.

She has found one nearby so that Milana can stay in her same school and we can be close to help out and visit. The contract should be signed in a week or two and they can begin a new chapter in their life with independence.

I wish they would stay longer, but I understand what it's like to need to be independent and get to work.

They will stay for at least 1-3 years and make a new life here in the rural part of Germany. They are tough and resilient but have to start totally from scratch and need a car for work.

The German government gives them about 300 euros a month, but they need to buy everything except the walls in the apartment.

Also, Oksana has found a man willing to drive her car from Kharkiv to the safe side of Ukraine in Lviv where she can pick it up.

But this all costs money - money to pay the driver, gas, train tickets to get there.

In Germany, you buy your own kitchen and bring it with you.

That means she needs to buy a fridge, a stove, cupboards, beds, mattresses, clothing, bedding, tables, chairs....you get the picture.

I'll be accepting money into my paypal and then giving them cash out of my bank. This is not an official charity and therefore not tax deductible.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for anything you can do to help.

Love,

Morgan, Aaron, Sage and Sascha

The first week here. A bit shellshocked. But they are awesome and tough and learning german and searching for jobs.

• Your full name : Sheilagh Fielder

• The full names of those individuals or organizations you are raising money for or are helping to distribute the funds and assistance (such as supplies)

Raising money for Oksana Shved-Mosghgova to buy appliances, furniture and bedding for her new home. Also to pay a personal driver to get her car from Kharkiv to the border and then from border of Poland to Germany where she lives.

• All cities where funds and assistance are being sent

Landstuhl, Germany

• A detailed plan explaining how the money will be used

I will take money into my paypal account. Then I will transfer money to my bank account and withdraw the funds from my American bank account via ATM in euros. The ATM gives the best exchange and lowest fees. Then I will give this in cash to Oksana where she will deposit it into her bank account or use it to purchase the needed items in her home. I will use paypal to pay the driver in Ukraine directly to get the car out of the danger zone and close to the Polish border.