Ukraine family loses all, new start in Tucson

My name is Aimee, our family is sponsoring a family of 4 that escaped the now annihilated city of Mariupol, Ukraine. Once a successful family that owned their own travel agency, now their home and offices as well as cars have been bombed and burned. They have lost absolutely everything. They lived underground in freezing temperatures sheltering from the explosions for over a month, without electricity, gas, and little food or water. For weeks they would gather minimal supplies from their apartment above, risking their lives to sneak in and out. Some people who left the basement never returned. Once their building became the frontline of the war, with Russian soldiers on one side and above them, and Ukrainian soldiers literally on the other side of them, they were trapped for weeks without access to food, rationing the very small bits they had left. Only dirty water was accessed by tapping into grey water lines through pipes in the basement. When a missile struck their building above them and the fires started, they tried to keep the smoke from entering the basement, but all attempts failed and their group of 40 was forced to emerge into the middle of an active war zone, begging the Russians not to kill them. The Russians made no promises, but ensured them if they did get shot is was Ukrainian snipers (more lies, of course). Traveling in a large, tight group, they escaped with only their lives and the clothes on their backs, in the midst of constant shelling, burning buildings, land mines and hostile Russian soldiers through an open graveyard of their countrymen. Just escaping Mariupol was a harrowing ordeal, as one of their mothers had 3 heart attacks trying leave. Their family was forced to Russia, over the course of 5 days through 2 different filtration camps undergoing interrogations and coercion to pledge allegiance to Russia. Because they had small children and 2 elderly women they we’re allowed to travel to Donetsk, because it is Russian occupied and controlled. They spent days trying to find a vehicle that could take them through Russia to the closest border. After 3 days they found a vehicle, and spent everything they had left to journey to the border for 30 hours, their family of 7 packed in tight. At the Russian border they had to stand in line for 14 hours in the freezing cold before they could get out, to temporary safety, but the country they crossed into is living in fear that they will be next. This family has traveled through hell and they have come out on the other side. They are now safe in Tucson, Arizona, since June 13th! This family, the Shevchenko’s, will be living with us for the foreseeable future, as we help them to rebuild a life.  We met in person for the first time at the airport, we do not yet speak the same language, but we believe to we are to love this family back life. Not many families can bring another family into their home and take on their expenses, but so many of you are wanting/able to help in smaller, yet significant ways. This fundraiser is to help them buy a car and pay for other car related expenses (insurance, gas, etc.). If there is any money left over it will go to their most urgent needs! Thank you to everybody joining with us in the journey to bless this family that has lost so much!