The Simonov Family Getting Started in the US

We are Pam & Jimmy Muth and we are hosting the Simonov family, Ukranian refugees, at our home in Orange County, CA. We are doing our best to help them get assimilated in this country and feel safe and comfortable while they get themselves situated here.

Their story: Within 15 minutes of bombs dropping in their neighborhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, the family grabbed a suitcase each and evacuated the city. For the next couple of months, they traveled through Poland, Turkey and Greece before spending a few weeks in Mexico while waiting for a U.S. sponsor that would allow them to enter the United States legally. They have completed all of the paperwork, physicals, driving tests etc required in order to be allowed to stay in the US with the United for Ukraine program and now have to wait for their work permits before they can get jobs. We understand that can take anywhere from 3-6 months.

The Simonovs are a really lovely family. Alex, the dad, is an entrepeneur who had his own business in Ukraine buying used cars in the United States, having them repaired and then selling them in Ukraine. Marina, the mom, handled raising the kids and helped Alex with his business. She's interested in finding work cleaning houses while here. The two boys, Nikita and Artem (ages 13 and 12) are very sweet and polite and will be going to middle school while here. Everyone in the family is determined to work on improving their grasp of the English language. They all speak some English already and everyone is improving daily.

I have started this fundraiser to help the family get started here in the United States. It's slightly overwhelming to realize you have to start from scratch in a new country. They had to leave all they had behind.The money raised will help Alex start his business here in the US and also allow the family to purchase clothes, food, furniture and other necessities once they are able to move into their own place.

Any amount you can donate will be put to great use and the family would be very very grateful.