Hello, my name is Inna, I opened this gofundmepage on behalf of my friend who passed away in the middle of the night on December 19th.

Volodymyr (goes by "Vovchik") came to America from Ukraine 6 months ago, fleeing the War. Vovchik wanted to have a save and better future for his wife Nadia,

and 2 of their young children who just joined Vovchik in mid October 2023, not full 2 months ago. Vovchik started working 2 weeks after coming to America

even though he did not speak any English. Vovchik started as construction helper and once he got his driver license, he started driving cargo vans all over United States.

His last trip was from Chicago, IL to Ontario, CA. Last night he stopped at a LOVE's truck stop in Utah to stay the night. Nadia, his wife spoke with him around 9:30 pm,

said goodnight and went to put kids to bed.

Nadia called me this morning telling me that she cannot get a hold of Vovchik and that he always responds to her calls. We both tried calling him all morning, and couldn't

get a hold of him. We couldn't call his boss because neither one of us knew what company he worked for. She hasn't been in America even 2 months, still getting acclimated, didn't even know or think of getting all the details her husband about his work. I started calling around companies in Chicago Illinois with Box Trucks and Cargo vans, to see if anyone has Volodymyr working for them. We both got on facebook and started writing on facebook to Ukrainian/Former Soviet Union groups that post work asking if anyone knows Volodymyr or anyone that knows companies with Cargo Vans and Box Trucks.

Eventually, Vovchik's boss reached out to Nadia via facebook, asking if she spoke with her husband, and she explained to him that she hasn't heard from Vovchik. Vovchik's boss, who is also Ukrainian called the Police in Utah near the location where GPS showed Vovchik, and for 4 hours we were waiting to find out what is going on.

The police called me and told me that Vovchik must have suffocated in his sleep. It must have been cold at night, and when the truck was opened finally by the police,

they found that the heater was running. It appears that there was not enough circulation in the van causing exhaust to build up and causing Volodymyr to suffocate.

According to the police, Volodymyr (Vovchik) looked peaceful, he must have fallen asleep and forgot to turn the heater off. He was 38 years old when he died last night from 19th to 20th of December.

Vovchik left behind his wife Nadia and son Stas who is 11 years old and daughter Veronika who is 2 year old. We are all so shocked and devastated to lose Vovchik so early in his life and so early in his wife's and children's wife. They will be growing up without a father. The family may have to go back to Ukraine because without her husband, Nadia cannot afford to live in United states and support both of her children.

Nadia would love to take her husband home, back to Ukraine, but she can't even afford to pay for his cremation, let alone transport the body to Ukraine. At this point they

don't even have money to pay for next months rent, this trip that Vovchik was on, was going to pay for that. They do not have any family in United States and just some new friends they made in last few month in US.

I’ve started a fundraiser to collect donations for Volodymyr's cremation or funeral service, and some money for the family for couple of months until they can gather

everything up and probably go back to Ukraine. Of course they would love to take Volodymyr with them, but at this point even cremation is too expensive for the family.

Please consider donating if you are able to do so. The family is so very grateful for every donation during this difficult time.

Thank you,

Inna (on behalf of Nadia, Stas and Veronika)