Please help me get my family here safely
Donation protected
I've created this GoFundMe for my beautiful, kind friend Veronika. All who know her know that she would never ask for help; this GoFundMe has been created to help fund flight tickets for her mom (Lika Vyhornytska), sister (Angelina Kuznetsova), aunt (Olha Ilnitskaya), and nephew (Eric) to come to Vancouver.
Nili
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Hi, I'm Veronika Vyhornyska, and I'm a Ukrainian permanent resident living in Vancouver for the past seven years. I work full-time in the custom signage industry and reside in Burnaby, BC.
On February 24th, 2022, Russian occupants invaded Kiev, Ukraine and life as I knew it was changed my people. I watch every day as my country is torn piece by piece, civilians killed, women and children raped, and lives ruined. There isn’t a day goes by where I don’t cry and cry for the fate of my country. Russia claimed to only attack military objects, but have bombed maternity hospitals, schools, bomb shelters, and trains as people tried desperately to leave.
My family remained in Odessa, my hometown, until they heard and felt bombing draw closer and closer to our home. When I heard that Canada was providing visas for Ukrainian people, I begged them to finally leave. They got on a train to Warsaw, Poland – it felt as though I was holding my breath waiting for their safe arrival out of the country. Fortunately, my mom, sister, aunt, and nephew made it safely but unfortunately my grandmother was too frail to leave and men under 60 are forbidden to leave the country – meaning my uncle, grandfathers, and sister’s fiancé are trapped.
My mom, Lika, is the light of my life – she is incredibly creative and built a business designing intricate ornaments which she lost as she fled the country. My sister, Angelina, is only 21 years old and just graduated with a Bachelors of Politics. She was only just looking to begin her career with the war began. My aunt is a lawyer and her son, my nephew Eric, is only 5 years old. My family has tried to shield him from the war but it’s so difficult as his father is still in Odessa.
Now, is the plea to you – please help my family arrive in Canada safely. I want them to not only survive, but to thrive. This money will go towards flight tickets, accommodation, food, and essentials. My family left with nothing more than a few bags of luggage – they left everything behind. I’m more than happy to have them stay with me when they arrive, but my one-bedroom basement suite can only act as a landing base for 4 people – I want them to feel welcomed and wanted, to see Canada as their new home.
As you can understand, I have already sent all of my savings to my family to support them
Currently, my sister and aunt have received visas. We are still waiting for my mom's visa.
My friends know I never ask for anything; it's not in my nature. Nili has encouraged me to reach out to my network to ask for support to to bring my family to safety and help support them when they arrive.
Even if you can’t help financially, please share this link or donate good condition items of clothing to support their arrival.
I am so grateful for you having read my story, praying for the safety of all Ukrainians and my country.
Thank you,
Veronika
Nili
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Hi, I'm Veronika Vyhornyska, and I'm a Ukrainian permanent resident living in Vancouver for the past seven years. I work full-time in the custom signage industry and reside in Burnaby, BC.
On February 24th, 2022, Russian occupants invaded Kiev, Ukraine and life as I knew it was changed my people. I watch every day as my country is torn piece by piece, civilians killed, women and children raped, and lives ruined. There isn’t a day goes by where I don’t cry and cry for the fate of my country. Russia claimed to only attack military objects, but have bombed maternity hospitals, schools, bomb shelters, and trains as people tried desperately to leave.
My family remained in Odessa, my hometown, until they heard and felt bombing draw closer and closer to our home. When I heard that Canada was providing visas for Ukrainian people, I begged them to finally leave. They got on a train to Warsaw, Poland – it felt as though I was holding my breath waiting for their safe arrival out of the country. Fortunately, my mom, sister, aunt, and nephew made it safely but unfortunately my grandmother was too frail to leave and men under 60 are forbidden to leave the country – meaning my uncle, grandfathers, and sister’s fiancé are trapped.
My mom, Lika, is the light of my life – she is incredibly creative and built a business designing intricate ornaments which she lost as she fled the country. My sister, Angelina, is only 21 years old and just graduated with a Bachelors of Politics. She was only just looking to begin her career with the war began. My aunt is a lawyer and her son, my nephew Eric, is only 5 years old. My family has tried to shield him from the war but it’s so difficult as his father is still in Odessa.
Now, is the plea to you – please help my family arrive in Canada safely. I want them to not only survive, but to thrive. This money will go towards flight tickets, accommodation, food, and essentials. My family left with nothing more than a few bags of luggage – they left everything behind. I’m more than happy to have them stay with me when they arrive, but my one-bedroom basement suite can only act as a landing base for 4 people – I want them to feel welcomed and wanted, to see Canada as their new home.
As you can understand, I have already sent all of my savings to my family to support them
Currently, my sister and aunt have received visas. We are still waiting for my mom's visa.
My friends know I never ask for anything; it's not in my nature. Nili has encouraged me to reach out to my network to ask for support to to bring my family to safety and help support them when they arrive.
Even if you can’t help financially, please share this link or donate good condition items of clothing to support their arrival.
I am so grateful for you having read my story, praying for the safety of all Ukrainians and my country.
Thank you,
Veronika
Organizer
Veronika Vyhornytska
Organizer
Burnaby, BC