Maryana is from Ukraine and part of our community here in California, and, recently, her car engine died without any warning. She was the second owner, no accidents, clean title, had routine oil changes and maintenance as recent as 3 weeks. It only had 135,000 miles on it! (Upon looking into it, she found that her particular car's make and model has been found to have multiple instances of the engine suddenly dying.) She is working but just hadn't planned for the sudden expense of needing to purchase a new vehicle. Not to mention just having to have paid the $2,000 fee to renew her ability to stay in the U.S. as a legal refugee.

In a time where some of the legal Ukrainian refugees in our area have still found themselves being detained by immigration despite having the proper authorization, she could probably choose to go home but, with the current conditions in Ukraine, trying to suddenly make that choice right now could be incredibly stressful and difficult. Maryana is hard-working, talented, and a big part of both our local and the Ukrainian community here. We love her and while she did NOT ask me to do this for her. She's doing everything she can to find a solution... I just want to do what I can to help.

For those of you who know her, I'd be so grateful if you'd join me in showing up for our friend. For those of you who don't, I'd be grateful if you'd be willing to contribute even the smallest amount towards an act of kindness for a stranger.

If all you can afford is $1, it's a dollar forward toward her having a means of transportation again, and it is SO meaningful! My ideal goal is to raise $4,000 in the next 2 weeks to help get her there. If each of my fb friends only donated $5, that would make that goal and I feel confident that, as a community, it's possible! Thank you so much for your time and for anything you contribute. If you aren't able to, thank you for the simple generosity of your time to read this. :) Love you!