Hello everyone-

I am organizing this campaign for my friend Yana from Ukraine. Donations will support Yana’s mother and Aunt who are now Ukrainian refugees as well as 2 Ukrainian families currently still unable to flee Kiev. 

Yana currently lives in FL and I was blessed to meet this beautiful soul through my own backyard fence as her husband’s family are MY neighbors. Yana is the epitome of kindness, love, and generosity.

Here is an account of Yana’s current situation in dealing with the crisis in her homeland of Ukraine.

Yana’s mother and Aunt were able to flee Ukraine three days ago after days of failed attempts. They each left with only a small bag that they were able to carry. They walked for 9 hours in the Ukrainian winter to cross the border as refugees into Poland and have since been relocated to Germany. Yana’s mother was forced to leave behind her own mother, who does not have the health to have taken the journey to flee at 85, her beloved cat, her hair salon business, and her brother (Yana’s Aunt’s husband). No men at his age are currently allowed to cross the border.

Additionally, Yana has 2 close friends of 20+ years, Anna and Julia, who are currently in a bomb shelter in Kiev with thousands of other Ukrainians, unable to flee. Anna is sheltered with her husband Ruslan and their two boys ages four and thirteen. Julia is with Eugenij and their 9 month old baby boy as well as their parents.

Thankfully, Yana’s mother and Aunt are now out of immediate life-threatening danger and Yana is still able to communicate with her close friends in the bomb shelter.

Unfortunately, the situation remains far from ideal. Yana’s mother and Aunt are applying for refugee status in Germany but have lost their income, homes, and personal belongings. Both Yana’s friends and family’s future is uncertain and will never again resemble their past lives.

Yana is accepting donations to assist her Mother and Aunt with survival essentials such as clothing, food, and hopeful future housing. Yana is also requesting funds to support her close friends, still in Kiev, in any way that may become an option. If they are able to leave the bomb shelter they will also be left with no semblance of their past lives and will have to rebuild or flee as well.

Yana is selfless, hard-working, and honest. She can ensure that your donation goes directly to her family and friends who are currently in great need of support.

I have chosen to write their stories to the best of my ability and took the responsibility of starting this campaign for Yana as she is understandably under a great deal of stress and very busy working on the logistics of providing help to her family and friends but here is a short message from Yana herself:

“This year I want nothing for my birthday but help for my family and friends in Ukraine. They have been hardworking people their whole lives, and are very generous, kind, loving and caring! If you have any chance to help them, please donate anything. Every dollar will make a huge difference for them. I found a way to transfer money to them and would be very grateful to each and every one of you for any help.”

If you would like to avoid the fees associated with GoFundMe, here is Yana’s Venmo information:

Yana Molchanova

@Yana-Molchanova

Thank you for your time, your support, your prayers, your generosity, or for sharing this campaign.