Since the fateful day that Russia invaded Ukraine, my heart has been heavy with sadness and my emotions weighted with fear. However, I've been heartened and overwhelmed by the considerable number of friends and family who have reached out to offer their support. So many of you have asked "What can we do?" and now I finally have a proper response: donate to this GoFundMe, which will be distributed to my family.

As of this writing, my family remains trapped in Mariupol, safely bunkered in a bomb shelter. Despite a lack of running water, electricity, heat, and sanitation, their spirits remain courageous, hopeful, and defiant. The other day my grandmother expressed excitement about the prospect of meeting her Great-Grandaughter.

God willing, peace will return to the city I grew up in and called home for so many years. No matter the outcome of this nightmare, my family will have an incredible journey ahead of them. In the most optimistic scenarios, that journey consists of relocating to Western Ukraine, Germany, Moldova, or the United States. But that journey might also be one of rebuilding the family store in Mariupol, and trying to return to a normal life.

The goal of this GoFundMe is to provide my family with much-needed support. Funds could be used for food, water, medicine, supplies, transportation lodging -- anything that provides support to their current situation.

This is my grandmother Lyuba (Любовь). She taught me math growing up and would always award correct answers with sweets. At 80 years old, she was born during the Nazi Occupation of Ukraine. She's seen so much in her life, yet remains a beacon of joy. Be careful drinking of vodka around her, as time has not dulled her legendary tolerance.

This is my dear cousin Oleg (Олег), 17. Before the invasion, he was studying to become a chef at a culinary institution in Mariupol. In addition to having phenomenal hair, he's selfless and always upbeat. We're hoping to relocate him to the United States.

This is my aunt Anya (Аня), who was like a second mother to me growing up. You will be hard-pressed to find her not smiling. The life of every party she's stepped into, Anya owns and operates a maternity store in Mariupol.