Supporting Anya's Move to the UK

Hi everyone! The Szczepanski family is organizing a fundraiser to support our dear family friend Anya as she escapes the war in Ukraine and moves to the UK to start a safe, new life.

Anya moved to the US to join us as an exchange student for an entire year in Traverse City, MI in 2012 and became a member of our family during that time. Since then, she has visited us in 2016 and 2019 for extended periods of time. Anya's home is in Kyiv, Ukraine where she lives with her long-term boyfriend and adorable dog. When the war began in February, she had to evacuate to her parent's home in the south of Ukraine and will never be able to return to Kyiv again. She is absolutely heartbroken.

Anya has been able to earn refugee status in the UK and will be moving there soon. She has arranged to be driven from her current evacuation city in Ukraine to Warsaw, Poland and will then be able to fly into London. Anya's boyfriend has to remain in Ukraine due to his age for enlistment in the Ukrainian military. Therefore, Anya will be moving to the UK completely alone.

Anya's employer will not be able to pay her for a couple of months while she is in the UK until the refugee paperwork is fully approved (which takes a month or two). Additionally, Anya has been financially supporting her elderly parents during the war. Rebecca has arranged to meet Anya in London and help her get settled and Autumn will travel there when Rebecca has to leave. This fundraiser aims to raise money for her rent and living expenses while she is waiting for her refugee paperwork to be approved.

Thank you to everyone who is willing to support Anya as she starts her new life in London. She will be beyond grateful!