Give Misha a kickstart to a new life

I, Katherine Koenig, share the story here of my Ukrainian friends.

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Natalia and Maksym arrived in the United States on September 2 with their 3 year old son Misha. They had lived in Ukraine all their lives, in a sea-coast city called Mariupol. They were able to escape war-torn Ukraine after their town was destroyed. This harrowing journey took them to Crimea, Georgia, and finally to Lithuania.

Eventually, a couple in Madison, WI sponsored them to relocate to Madison. The sponsor has helped them with many things--especially bureaucracy and paperwork. I have helped by sharing my living space with them -- a two-bedroom condo in Madison near the zoo. It has been a pleasure to help this beautiful family, and witness their strong, resilient way of adjusting to a whole new country.

Maksym has gotten a job with a "green energy" type of company owned by his sponsor. This work often takes him to other towns several hours away from Madison. Natalia wants to work, too, and also wants to take college level English courses. (She is especially adept with languages. She speaks Ukrainian, Russian and Polish.)

Natalia and Maksym are surprised by how expensive childcare is in America, because in Ukraine they had free and excellent daycare.

Natalia does not drive. She will have to walk Misha to and from daycare. There is only one day care center within a mile of our home. The center has an opening right now, and is willing to take Misha.

However, funds are needed to kickstart his entry into daycare. Misha will benefit from being around other children. At 3 and a half, he is a sunny personality who is smart and curious. (In my view, he is absolutely adorable! A really exceptional child.) Misha will also be able to learn English faster if he is around other children and adults.

Can you help kickstart Misha attending daycare, so his mother can find work and also attend her college English courses?

[Note: the family has already explored getting financial assistance for daycare -- the social service system is eluding them. Until Natalia has her own job, they are not eligible for cash assistance to defray the cost of daycare.]

It is the season of giving. Your donation of any size will go a long way to help a deserving family who has suffered the loss of their home and country.

Thank you.