Irida in Sanctuary Family Fund

July 2024 update ,

Hi everyone , first of all I’d like to thank all of you for always taking a moment and helping me out . Life has been crazy and sometimes challenging.

Jayden is now going into the 11th grade and is a great help with my work and the girls , he is turning into a very handsome and kind man, and is eager to help . Jilly and Jazzy are going into 5th grade and love their school very much , same as they love Sunday school , they are very smart and kind .

My boys (Bryan and Jayden )and I join more and more festivals , and they help me in the kitchen , as the inflation is still ongoing , we are trying to be creative and try to make money every way possible - which can be very hard - people are not coming out as much as they are being careful with their spendings .

I just received news that my immigration attorney is closing her firm , which is very unnerving, but nothing I can do to change that , but an attorney from there is opening her own firm and is taking over my case .

AND :

I have my major court hearing in November of this year , how scary is that !!! ( as long as it doesn’t get postponed which happens often) , that hearing should resolve my case and result in a green card application !!

We have moved twice already and this is our third move in a year . It has drained me financially , and emotionally, because a move involves so much money ! This time it’s first last and security , which is $6300 , that I would need to have in the next few days . I already paid the brokerage and application fees , which is almost another months rent .My lease here is up at the end of July , and if all goes well , I’ll be moving into the new place august 1st , so I’m trying to act fast . My landlord here made it clear that he is putting the house on the market last week of July . So I need to move .

The house that I am living in now also has terrible insulation, so my heating /cooling is costly . I still cannot apply for assistance , including a program that helps you with first last and security for a move , as that would shut down my road to the green card .

I would love to buy a house , but we keep getting outbid every time and the buyers market right now is very bad , so while I stay optimistic I must also be realistic.

You might also know that the UU kitchen is being redone , and it’s such an amazing project , going green is truly a blessing . I’m the meantime , the work is taking longer than expected , I haven’t been able to use the kitchen for the last two weeks , and every week that I’m not working , I am loosing the money that I could put towards the new place . I used the kitchen in a different church , but that is very hard and costly , and on my small business level , it hurts financially to not work or to rent a kitchen somewhere else . So I’m kind of stuck .

I am grateful that I have you in my life , it has not been easy , and with the upcoming elections , it’s getting scary .

Thank you , for being my family ❤️

Irida is a Russian immigrant fighting deportation so that she can stay with her U.S.-born husband and three children. Irida is asking the community for financial assistance during this struggle. All of your donations go toward paying rent, purchasing food and other family expenses.

May 2020

Hello everyone,

I am reaching out to you through this message to thank you and express how much your help and contributions matter. As we know, Covid-19 has changed our lives and everything now is different . I hope that you are taking care of yourselves and taking precautions if you have to leave your home.

My family and I are staying safe. The pierogi business had to shut down until it is safer for us, for staff who are still working at the church, and for everyone who has been buying supplies and helping with sales. For now I don't have any source of income.

We set the original GoFundMe goal of $10,000 almost two years ago. We didn't know what would happen or how long I would need sanctuary. Now I need to raise the amount. You folks are amazing and are always here for me, I am forever grateful for that.

My children, my husband and I are looking forward to seeing you when it is safe to do so and miss you all dearly. Most of you have my email address, please do reach out if you would like to chat .

Stay safe !! Love, Irida

p.s. I do hope this is over soon , scary times...