Reunite Ukrainian Refugee Family

It was just a normal afternoon picking my kids up from school.

After going through the intersection, my 7-year-old daughter asked if the family at the corner of the intersection was homeless.

I told her I didn't see anyone, but she explained there were two kids, and they were holding a sign.

We turned around, and there was a beautiful family with a sign seated at the corner of the 4-way stop sign next to the school.

I shook hands with the father – Vasile, and he introduced me to his children – Enzo, who is 3, Fabrizio, who is 6, and his wife, Christina.

He explained that they recently fled war-torn Ukraine, and were attempting to make a trip back to Texas, as that is where they entered the country and needed to be back for an immigration appointment regarding their refugee status.

We agreed to meet across the street at the gas station.

While filling up their van, my kids were playing with their kids. I learned some more about their story, and got their phone number.

They tried to stay in Ukraine after the war broke out, but eventually had to flee their homeland.

He shared about the difficulty he has had getting a work permit, and the hardship keeping his family together while bouncing from motel to motel, job to job, and living meal to meal.

Then he started telling me about his other two kids.

He couldn't afford to bring his entire family with him.

His wife began crying as he explained that the 8 and 10-year-old were still in Ukraine staying with an uncle and they hadn't seen them in months.

They left that night for Texas and drove all night.

The next day, Vasile and I talked on the phone and sent messages back and forth. He had made it to Nashville, but the older van they were driving was not doing well.

He was able to hire a mechanic to fix the most urgent problem with the car, but the mechanic wasn't sure it would last until they made it to Texas.

The following day, they were out early and on their way. But the car didn't make it.

They got all the way to Little Rock, and the car died for good.

We were able to get some friends together to help them with bus tickets to Texas so they could make their court appointment.

And that is where they are now.

Will you help?

All funds will go directly to Vasile, Christina, Enzo, and Fabrizio.

They need money for:

They also need legal assistance for their refugee status, as well as reuniting their family by bringing their other two children from Ukraine to be here with them.

I know a lot of people have said they are standing with Ukraine – which I love to see.

Here is an opportunity to do something tangible for a beautiful family that needs to be welcomed here after fleeing their war-torn country.

My name is Jon Copper, and I live in Midlothian, Virginia. I work in marketing, and have 2 kids of my own. If you would like to verify my information, you can see my social profiles below:

Please share this with any friends, family, or church groups you know – every little bit will help this beautiful family feel welcomed in our country and get on their feet with stable work and a place to stay, as well as reunite their family by bringing their other two children out of war-torn Ukraine and here to the US.

Blessings to you for your consideration!