Hello, my name is Ana, a Ukrainian who has called California home for seven years.

The imminent humanitarian crisis in Ukraine has not spared my family, who still live in my beautiful home country. At 5:15 am on Thursday, Feb. 24, bombs exploded across five Ukrainian cities, throwing the country into chaos. My family was forced to immediately leave Kyiv and rush to find safety, leaving their entire lives behind them. They are still in Ukraine but know that they will need to evacuate the country altogether as the situation rapidly deteriorates.

I am raising funds to evacuate my sisters and their children and families. In the photo I have shared, you can see three generations of my family, including myself, in the middle! The younger two generations have lived happily in Independent Ukraine, enjoying the peace and safety of our beloved country. Now suddenly, we find that we need to run to save the lives of our children.

I need your help to help them as I cannot do this alone.

Your donation will help me cover the costs for my sisters, their families, niece, and nephew to travel out of Ukraine, find temporary lodging and food, and eventually travel to a more permanent place of safety. Any amount helps, and I will continue to update you as I receive news from them.

Thank you,

Ana