Support for Ukrainian family separated by war.

I'd like you to meet the Dudar family from Kyiv, Ukraine.

Zhenia (inset photo), Tamara, Natasha, Sasha, Valera

Background

We met the Dudar family through a language tutoring program in which our son Kirk participated during the summer of '21 with Sasha.

When the war started, Kirk reached out to Sasha to inquire about his family's situation. We were relieved to hear they were safe after fleeing from approaching Russian military advances. In a video call, we learned of their three-stage journey as they departed Kyiv, details of which could make for a movie script, including a borrowed car with only a front seat, a dead battery, and 2 liters of gas!

After a short stay in Lviv, Zhenia was put on military reserve status back in Kyiv. He is required to remain local in Kyiv. His software sales employment ended at the war's start -- the central office was in a city that sustained heavy damage and population flight -- and he's been without income since early March.

The rest of the family proceeded to Krakow, Poland. Early on, Kelly enlisted help from fellow Red Hat employees in Poland who stepped up within hours of the Dudar's arrival following a twenty-two-hour trip from Lviv. The citizens of Krakow were very welcoming and gladly supported the incoming Ukrainians. However, resources are now stretched and financial assistance is dwindling in Poland, so the family returned to Kyiv to be with Zhenia a few weeks ago. As we've learned, daily life in Ukriane is tragically tenuous at this time.

Looking forward

Zhenia is working to acquire emergency food supplies and electric heaters for himself and his senior relatives who will remain in Kyiv. His main concern is what lies ahead for the winter months. To date, Zhenia and Natasha have been very conscientious with the funds raised, using only $700 of the balance raised on Gofundme to purchase emergency food supplies and to cover the most basic of needs. Zhenia's primary focus is providing for Natasha and his children's planned future here in the US.

In mid-September, Natasha, Sasha, and Valera will travel to Warsaw by train, then fly to Washington D.C. where we will meet them at the airport! The two boys will attend high school here in Raleigh while Natasha will pursue work and study opportunities. Natasha teaches Mandarin and Russian, but will consider other work options when she arrives.

While we host them at our home, our shared goal is to get them an apartment or house of their own to rent as soon as practicable. It's a big goal, but we hope to raise enough to cover rent/utilities and pantry items while they get settled over the next year in

the US. Natasha and Sasha will apply for work permits, and other available benefits which could take a couple of months to process. Hopefully, we can secure a passage for Zhenia so that he can join his family in the coming months, but there are many challenges.

Kelly, Anna, Kirk and I never imagined we would be involved in an adventure like this, but we are grateful to help this family pursue safety and one day hopefully see them become Americans, with a little luck! We hope each of you has the opportunity to meet the family in person to see the impact of your direct support. More to come soon -- we can't wait to share updates and photos of their arrival in the US!

Kind Thanks,

Neil, Kelly, Anna, and Kirk Porter on behalf of the Dudar Family