Help Ukrainian Refugees Find Their New Home

Hello, my name is Kristopher McDonald and I am creating this GoFundMe page with the hopes that you will help me raise money for my friends so they can buy a home.

On February 24th, in Kharkiv, my friend Serhii Hnatovskyi woke his wife Ksenia, by saying, “The war has started!” She thought he was joking and laughed. Little did she know it would be months before she would laugh or finding anything remotely funny because in that moment their world was turned upside down. They along with their 19 month old daughter and mother in law proceeded to take what little supplies they could into their tiny cellar. The four of them spent 5 days and nights in a cold and damp cramped cellar, not big enough for them to lay down. After miserable 5 nights they realized peace was not coming and the bombs were continuing to fall so they decided it was time to flee their beloved home of 19 years. After several days of close calls they were able to make it into Poland and eventually to Salem, Oregon.

They realize now that unfortunately their home was destroyed, their community wiped out and they no longer have a life to go back too. Fortunately, they have found a new community that has welcomed them and wants to keep them here. They currently have temporary living accommodations (special thanks to Lucy),however, it is exactly that…temporary. Please help our community show our Ukrainian friends that America and Salem is their new home by donating so we can help them buy a new home where they can rebuild a new life.

We realize that $300k is a lofty goal, however, I do not underestimate the power of generosity. The plan is to keep this open until we reach our goal or within the next 6 months. Whichever is sooner. If their current temporary housing arrangement ends before either of those milestones are met then I will disperse the funds directly to Serhii and Ksenia Hnatovskyi so they can use it to find alternative living arrangements.

Thank you,

kristopher