Viktor, Vlada and their two children grew up and lived in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. They love their country and never considered leaving until Russia bombed their neighborhood. The situation quickly became untenable, and they packed everything that could fit in a car and drove through the length of Ukraine to neighboring Moldova. They then continued to Romania, where they donated their car at the border for volunteers helping Ukrainian refugees and transporting munitions. Then, while en route to a temporary home in San Francisco, they learned they had to detour to Mexico for a month while waiting for permission to travel to the United States. It was here that Vlada found out that she was pregnant. It took a total of three months of traveling to finally reach San Francisco, only to find that the house they had planned to occupy was no longer available. Thankfully, they were able to find a church in Marin which welcomed them temporarily. It's time now for them to move out on their own, but they need our help to make a permanent home. They arrived here with two suitcases and now need pretty much everything else.
The church in Marin welcomed them and got them set up with food and medical insurance; however, these temporary accommodations are no longer an option for them. Vlada can't work yet, having just given birth to a baby girl, and is in recovery from complications from the delivery. Both are graduate school-educated and studying English but will be unable to apply their skills until they are on firmer footing. Viktor's earnings will not be anywhere near enough to support a five-person family.
With a days-old new baby, a son in their arms, a daughter at school, and a tight schedule of ongoing administrative obligations to formalize their status in country, they can't move forward without financial assistance for housing. An average two-bedroom apartment costs twice what Viktor can earn in a month. They are struggling financially and need our help to build their new lives. The goal is to help them with their move-in costs, first and last month's rent, and security deposit.
You can help! Anything will matter to this kind family who have been through so much in the past seven months.
Thank you for any contribution that you feel would make a meaningful impact. PLEASE SHARE!
