Dear Friends,
I am so overwhelmed by the outpouring of your concern for my friends and family in Ukraine.
As most of you know that I was born in Donetsk, Ukraine. My family moved to the United States when I was 13 years old, to escape Soviet communist regime. It is heartbreaking to see what people of Ukraine are going though, especially people that are so close to you.
My best friend since birth, Victoria and her family left everything behind and fled the Donetsk / Donbas for Kyiv, when Russia invaded that area of Ukraine in 2014. They had to start fresh and just when life seemed to get back to normal, once again her family find themselves in the minds of war. Victoria has a husband and two kids, ages 7 and 15, and two elderly parents. Like many people in Europe, her family does not have savings and have always lived paycheck to paycheck. Their resources are diminishing daily and basic necessities are becoming scarce.
Victoria was able to safely flee to Bulgaria with her two kids, leaving her husband behind due to mobilization order. She is on her own, in the foreign country trying to figure out how to get by.
Many of you have reached out and inquired how you can help. I ask for your donations, all of which will be sent directly to Viktoria and her family, to help them get by as they continue to navigate their new reality. Every little bit helps.
Thank you and may we see an end to this unjust war swiftly.
Anna Pelts
