Anastasia (age 25 and 8 months pregnant), Emma (4) and Lora (84) drove to Lviv from their home in Odessa not long after the war started. From there they walked 3 days with two suitcases of belongings to the Polish boarder to meet Igor (30) who was abroad when the war started. By 4/7 they flew to Toronto and one day later walked across the bridge in Niagara Falls where a thoughtful immigration officer waived all requirements and gave them a one time tourist entry, good for 6 months. Their plans are to return to Odessa if the city isn’t destroyed. Time, of course, will tell. In the meantime they need housing initially for 4 but soon to be 6 when their son is born and Igor’s mother arrives to join them. As soon as possible Igor will work whatever job or jobs he can find.

All funds will go to rental expense. My wife and I are funding most other expenses and temporarily providing housing, a neighbor has loaned them her car for 6 months and local charities are fulfilling those needs for which they are chartered. Long term housing is the missing piece.

These are wonderful people. If there are any excess funds we will either apply them to another war refugee family or will donate them to The UpValley Family Center in St. Helena, CA