As we are all aware, the tragedy continues to unfold in Ukraine half a world away. It often goes unnoticed that the devastation can even be felt in our own cities, where refugees seek safe haven and hope to start new lives in our amazing country. We can make a difference here and now, one family at a time. We sincerely hope to change the lives of one such family, will you join me?

My name is Vlad Yefymenko. I operate Give Liquidation in North Royalton with my son Illya who graduated from North Royalton High School and is attending The Ohio State University. I have lived in North Royalton for over thirteen years since I moved from Ukraine and consider myself thankful to be part of a community in which I have been lucky to raise a family. I am trying to donate my time with the help of my friends and some local businesses to make a change in the life of the family I will introduce below.

I have become acquainted with a family from Ukraine through our church. This family has been through immense trauma losing everything they had and being separated from their father/husband and now relocated to a new country. Their mother, Maria, and her three children, 15-year-old Nazar, 11-year-old Arina, and 1-year-old Mark are currently living in Akron in a difficult and unsustainable situation. Here is an edited version of their account:

On February 24th of 2022, Maria was forced into the basement of her home in Bucha, Ukraine with her two children Nazar and Arina in the midst of a full-blown attack from the invading Russian army. Hiding in a cold, dirt-floor basement with bombs and gunfire just above their heads, Maria was also 9 months pregnant and was nearing labor. Neighbors risked their lives to steal away Maria in the dark of night to get her medical assistance to deliver the baby. Eventually, she was able to leave the city in an emergency vehicle with 5 other pregnant women. Their journey was treacherous, the first hospital they reached did not have electricity and was overrun with wounded soldiers and civilians and they had to take detours around bombed roads to find a hospital that could take them in. There was no way for the children to come with Maria, so they had to remain in the basement of their home with their grandparents. The family’s father had been recruited to assist the Ukrainian military in Kyiv and had no contact with his family at this time and was unable to assist in any way.

The emergency vehicle was able to reach a working hospital, and on March 1, Maria gave birth to her son Mark. While she was giving birth in a separate location, the Russian military forced entry into their home and threatened harm to the children while they pillaged their family home taking anything of value, including their phones, before vacating the premises. I will spare the indescribable details of the children’s ordeal, although their lives were spared, physical and mental tortures were both threatened and carried out that will leave permanent mental scars you and I might never imagine.

For many days, Maria had no way of reaching them or even knowing where they were. On March 11, the Red Cross created a humanitarian corridor out of Bucha, but it was only open to those with their own vehicles. The evacuation was difficult because the family's car broke down at a point during the journey, and the whole way there was unease since there had been previous reports of Russian forces shelling humanitarian corridors. But at last, that evening, the family was reunited at a humanitarian center in Kyiv, but the horrors they experienced along the way made this the furthest thing from a happy ending. Maria said that when they saw each other they were overcome with joy, but unsure of what their future would look like. I truly don’t believe that my words are enough to convey even a fraction of their story, some details are too horrible to share, and other details that even I don't know because they are too difficult for Maria to recount, but I hope that this can help you better understand what this family has endured.

Six months ago, this family was able to relocate to the USA on a sponsored visa. The family is currently staying in Akron where a Catholic charity has temporarily put them in a home for two months’ rent paid. Maria has been working occasionally for $10/hour at a factory in Barberton, but this situation is precarious and puts a lot of strain on the family. The main challenge is that without her own vehicle, she is not able to work consistently while ensuring that baby Mark can be cared for while Nazar and Arina are at school.

My family, friends, and neighbors all feel we can help this family by bringing them into our community where we can better help with a job, childcare, and ongoing support.

We are trying to raise a minimum of $15,000. These funds will pay for one year of rent at a condo in North Royalton and the purchase of a very modest vehicle so Maria can have reliable transportation. We have already assisted her in locating a new job to help her to establish a more solid income.

Please can you help these innocent victims of war? Each small contribution counts, even if you just share this story to help us meet our goal as quickly as possible. Any additional funds will be used to help furnish the apartment, clothe the family, and/or pay forward future rent to give this small family peace of mind and hope that they will reunite with their father and husband soon. Please keep them and everyone affected by the tragedy in Ukraine in your prayers and thank you for reading.

If you would like to donate furniture, household items, or clothing – we will accept such donations as needed at our place of business once we are able to secure their living arrangements and will post information on social media as soon as we are able!

#HelpUkraineFamilyinUS