Ukrainian Refugee Family - Help

My name is Adriana and I am asking for help for my friend Anna’s parents. Like many Ukrainians, Viktor and Larysa Shalapukha have lost their home, their jobs and their lives as they know it due to the war in Ukraine.

When the war started, Larysa and Viktor remained in the city Mykolayiv with the determined belief that the situation would improve and that this war would end quickly. But advancing Russian troops and the bombing of their city caused them to listen to our pleas in asking them to flee their country, leaving behind everything — including their son, who continues to fight for their country. I keep trying to imagine being forced to leave the home you worked hard for, the home where some of your most precious memories were created, the home you felt safe in — it is unimaginable.

Because Anna is an American citizen, she was able to get them here to the United States. Unfortunately, we learned that because they were not already here on the 1st of March when President Biden offered humanitarian relief to Ukrainians in the USA. They do not qualify for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Without TPS, they cannot be eligible for anything that would be normally offered to people in their situation. In Ukraine, Larysa worked as a dentist, and Viktor owned a truck used for hauling building materials. Here they are not allowed to perform any job. They are not allowed a means to sustain themselves.

This means through no fault of their own and our misunderstanding of how our government was helping refugees subjected to this senseless violence, they have no way to support themselves. We are grateful that Larysa and Viktor are here in Los Angeles with us and safe. Away from the senseless war that was brought to their doorstep.

I am asking for help for my friends to sustain themselves here in the United States. The donations would help Anna cover anything from medical bills to housing costs to groceries. It will also help Larysa and Viktor rebuild their life once they are able to return to Ukraine. They desperately want to return to their home as soon as there is an end to the war.

No donation is too small. Any help will be much appreciated and welcomed. If you cannot donate, please consider passing this along to others so that we can reach as many people as possible.

Thank you so much for your kindness and for taking the time to read this.