Please help bring this Ukrainian family to Canada

Dear Family and Friends,

Natalia, the children and I will be hosting a Ukrainian family starting very shortly. We are heartbroken about the war in Ukraine and want to do something within our capacity to help.

The family consists of a mother, Oksana, aged 36, and her two children, Anhelina, aged 2 and Arsen, aged 6. Oksana's husband, though a civilian, is required to stay to support the country, and soon, we hope, to help rebuild it. Oksana speaks intermediate English and is determined to study and work. I don't expect this will be easy with two young kids.

Oksana found shelter in a cottage outside of Warsaw, and is in the process of getting the papers required for her and her children to come to Canada. She hopes to pay herself for heavily discounted tickets from Finnair, but we won't know for sure that she will be able to get such tickets. Though Canada has made it easier for Ukrainians fleeing war to stay and work in Canada, they are not treated as refugees and get no specific assistance.

Natalia and I will provide food, shelter and moral support during the next year. Some of you have mentioned you would be interested in contributing in some way. If you are interested and able to contribute financially, we are trying to raise something like $3000 initially to cover a) airfare, should Oksana not be able to get cheap tickets, and b) medical exams Oksana will be required for a work permit, and c) private health insurance to cover her until she qualifies for OHIP. Oksana is not trying to acquire the tickets until she has her travel visa in hand, so we don't know how those tickets will be priced. Also we would like to raise a smaller ongoing amount to help Oksana with living expenses outside of food and shelter. Oksana is determined to start working as soon as possible, but as you can imagine, that will be complicated.

There are other ways to help other than financially. We may need: a) a car seat, b) a twin bed, c) toys and books for a 3 year old. We will update this list as we become aware of what they really need. Transportation may also be helpful at various times. (We may not have enough space in our car to pick them all up from Montreal/Toronto/TBD.)

If you can help, please reach out. Your advice is also welcome, as we have not attempted something like this before.

Love,

Thomas and family

Disclosure:

Money will be sent by me Thomas MacLean to Oksana Novokhatska (currently in Poland) for airfare for her and her children.

Once in Canada, remaining funds will be provided to Oksana to pay for the necessary medical exams and for private health insurance.

Should Oksana not receive the necessary travel visa, we will return the money to the donors.