Ukrainian Families seeking refuge in DeWitt, IA

IA NICE is sponsoring 5 Ukrainian families who will be relocating to the Quad City/DeWitt, Iowa area. We are kickstarting a campaign to raise donations to support these families as they settle into their new communities. These families have lost their homes, belongings and employment while forced to flee their home country due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Pictured on the left is the Hedzhymanova Family sheltering in a bunker in Ukraine for safety after the invasion began. The photo on the right shows the family united in the U.S. with their sponsor and IA NICE board member.

Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Hedzhymanova family enjoyed a calm and joyful life in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, (one of the hardest hit by Russian military attacks). Olena and Maksym Hedzhymanova were successful entrepreneurs in the retail and service industries until the Russian military burned their business operations and destroyed their neighborhood. In September 2022, due to heavy shelling, the family was forced to abandon their home and business in Kharkiv City with their 10-year-old daughter, Olena’s mother, and the family’s cat. The family arrived in the Quad City area on Sunday, October 16th with the support of their sponsor, Angela Boelens of DeWitt, Iowa and IA NICE volunteers.

Money raised will support the Hedzhymanova family and 4 other families (whose stories we will share) arriving in the area in November. Donations will directly help these families with immediate needs upon their arrival including temporary housing, clothing, food, healthcare, school supplies and other basic necessities as they begin to rebuild their lives here and establish employment in the U.S.

Thank you for your kindness & support toward helping these families rebuild life in our community.