Alla and Oleksii Kryvda and their three children Nikolai (6), Sofiia (9) and Matviei (11) have finally arrived in the US after an arduous journey fleeing the war in Ukraine. They’ve lost everything and need our help to create a safe home for their family.

Before the war, the Krvyda family lived in the town of Vinnytsia, where Oleksii worked as a graphic designer and Alla worked for a bank. From the start of the war, Vinnytsia has been a Russian target. Many cruise missiles have been launched into the city, destroying the Havryshivka International Airport, the Vinnytsia TV Mast, the Ukrainian Air Force National Military Command Center, and, most tragically, the medical center, offices, stores, and civilian homes. Many citizens have lost their lives, including children, and Vinnytsia has been declared a city of war crimes.

To save their children, in early March Oleksii and Alla decided that Alla and the kids would flee to Poland via train and Oleksii would stay behind in Ukraine. They believed that the war would end and they would soon be reunited. Of course, this hope was not to be realized.

In Poland, Alla and the children were separated from Oleksii for two months. She found temporary housing, but rent prices continually increased due to the massive influx of Ukrainian refugees, so remaining in Poland was no longer a viable option. Meanwhile, Alla’s mother saw reports that the US was allowing Ukrainians fleeing the war to enter the US via Mexico. Alla learned via the internet that volunteers were meeting Ukrainians at the Tijuana airport and driving them to the US border.

The family flew to Mexico on April 24th, ready to reach a safe harbor. However, after days of grueling travel with the children, when they arrived in Tijuana on April 25th, the border had officially just closed to Ukrainians. They missed crossing into the US by three hours.

That day, the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) refugee program was announced. Alla, Oleksii, and the children remained in Mexico for three months awaiting approval of their U4U paperwork. Speaking neither Spanish nor English, far from home and sharing a small room, they waited and hoped. On July 25th, they finally arrived at Newark Airport. Veterinarian Louise Murray and her firefighter husband, Peter, welcomed them into their home in Guilford, Connecticut, and connected them with local Ukrainian speakers who are helping the Kryvdas navigate life in the area. Their journey has been incredibly challenging physically, emotionally, and financially and the Kryvda family is still in great need of additional funding and supplies.

Oleksii is a graphic designer who needs an appropriate computer to work and support his family; the cost would be approximately $4,000. The Kryvdas also need funding to rent their own apartment or house, including at least three months’ rent to start (first month, last month, deposit). Rent in Guilford for a family of 5 is approximately $4500/month, equaling $13,500 to secure a home. The children will need clothing, shoes, winter coats, boots, and school supplies, and funds are needed for basic staples such as groceries and medical costs.

Estimated Costs:

Computer 4,000

Housing 13,500

Car insurance, maintenance, fuel 5,000

Clothes, shoes & school supplies 2,000

Food and household supplies for three months 3,000

Utilities, medical copays, and other incidentals 3,000

We hope to raise $30,000 for the Kryvda family to secure a home and care for their children for the next few months, until they are settled in and able to support themselves. Please consider a donation. The past eight months have been traumatic and frightening for the family. They are so happy to be safe and welcomed here in the US but need help getting back on their feet. No amount is too small. Thank you so much!