Help Ukrainian Refugees in CA - Olga & Vlad

Hi, my name is Marika and I'm raising money for my new friends, Olga and her son, Vlad. They moved here recently from Kyiv and are being hosted in the Bay Area by mom, Irene and step-dad, Jim. We are trying to raise money to buy a used car so that as soon as Olga can get her work permet and get a job she can be more independent. Below is a short summary of Olga's current situation in her own words.

My name is Olga. I am a 39-year-old widow with an 11-year-old son, Vlad. We are refugees from the war in Ukraine.

We lived in Kyiv. At 4:30 am on February 24, I suddenly awoke to the sound of bombs, which rattled the windows of our apartment. We left with our passports and one suitcase of only the most needed items. The city was in a panic. The roads out of Kyiv were packed with cars of others who were fleeing their homes. It took 28 hours to reach the Romanian border and, from there, I drove to Poland. After 1 week in a hotel, we tried to find an apartment but there was nothing available due to the huge influx of other Ukrainian refugees. I then drove to Croatia, where we were able to stay with a friend for one month, but I could not find work.

I heard that the United States was accepting Ukrainian refugees across the Mexican border. After numerous flights, we finally arrived in Tijuana, where some very kind people hosted us for a while.

Through Nova Ukraine, we found an American family in Saratoga, CA, who were willing to host us for as long as necessary. They have taken me to various government agencies to apply for the necessary documents for life in the USA, but everything moves slowly. I don’t know when (or if) I will receive a work permit so I can earn my own money.

The Jewish Community Center has very kindly given my son a scholarship to their summer programs so, at least, he will have something to keep him busy, improve his English and have other young boys and girls to play with.

I still have my Ukrainian driver’s license and, on June 16, will take the road test with the DMV.

My greatest need right now is for a car, so that I can take my son to summer camp and then to school in the fall.

I really hope you will consider a donation. And if you can, please share this request with your friends.

For full transparency, I would like all of the very generous donors that I will be transferring the funds to myself personally and then giving the funds directly to Olga. This is because it has been difficult for Olga to secure her own bank account.