Ukrainian Mother & Daughter: From War Zone to Fire Loss

Two years ago, my daughter Dasha and I fled our home in Dnipro, Ukraine, one of the most heavily bombarded cities in the contested region of the Russian invasion. Through the United for Ukraine refugee program, designed to help Ukrainians escape perilous war conditions, we were legally able to come to the United States, sponsored by my sister who worked as a dental assistant in Pacific Palisades, California.

Initially, we lived with my sister, but when circumstances changed, Dasha and I moved into a small single-room efficiency apartment in the area. I worked two jobs - as a clerk at a Ukrainian store and cleaning homes - to maintain our modest living situation and provide education and stability for my daughter. Despite our humble circumstances, Dasha thrived at Palisades Charter High School, maintaining excellent grades and even joining the cross-country team, while pursuing her interest in digital media.

On Tuesday morning, January 7th, our lives were upended once again. With just one hour's notice, we were forced to evacuate our small apartment as the catastrophic Palisades Fire approached. We could only take what we could carry in two bags - leaving behind everything we had worked so hard to acquire over the past two years.

The next morning, we woke to find not just our apartment building, but our entire neighborhood completely destroyed by what has now become the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history. The devastation is total - homes, grocery stores, Palisades Charter High School, and all local businesses have been reduced to ashes. With no running water, no electricity, and extremely limited cell coverage, the entire area is now unlivable. Everything we owned - from clothing to furniture, from school supplies to kitchen essentials - was lost in the fire. Once again, my daughter and I must start over with nothing but two bags of belongings.

Currently, we are staying in temporary accommodation that will only last until Sunday (1/12/25) NOTE: Thankfully, we just got this extended until 1/31/25.

We urgently need help to:

My daughter and I have already rebuilt our lives once after fleeing the war in Ukraine. Now, having lost everything again in this catastrophic fire, we need help to get back on our feet. Any support, no matter how small, will help us rebuild our lives once again.

How You Can Help:

Olha Sierova

1014 Broadway Ave #69

Santa Monica, CA 90401

Any monetary donation, no matter the size, will help us secure housing and replace basic necessities. 100% of donations will go directly to helping us rebuild our lives.

Our Clothing Sizes:

Please share this campaign with your networks - your help will make a crucial difference as we try to rebuild our lives once again. Thank you for any support you can provide.