Ukrainian Mom with 3 kids arrives in San Diego

Olga Kovalchuk and her 3 kids (Anna, age 4; Ruslan, age 6; Max, age 15), arrived in San Diego with no place to live, no relatives or job. We (my husband Zachary & I) saw her story on local TV & like so many, immediately wanted to help and placed one phone call and moments later we spoke directly to Olga-  invited her & her children into our Carmel Valley home. 

100% of ALL money donated will go ENTIRELY to Olga & her family.

Her story appeared on USA Today on March 16, 2022.

 

Olga fled Ukraine & traveled over 6,300 miles, driving for days through 5 countries, leaving her car in the Czech Republic, taking whatever flights she could afford to get far away from the war. Unfortunately, her 9-year old daughter was staying with her ex-husband in Ukraine who had said he would pass her to Olga at the border - he did not come as promised, and she was panicking and knew she had to leave to protect her family & young kids. "I left my life, everyone I knew and everything I had."

 

Her family spent days in the basement of their apartment complex, while bombs & missiles exploded, surfacing only to get food & bathe. When they heard more explosions nearby & she quickly packed a small backpack for each child to urgently leave with her dad and brother's family. "I didn't want to leave my country, yet I knew I had to keep my kids safe."

 

Olga needs donations to help her find & pay for a place to live (currently staying with us in San Diego).  And, of course, she needs money for food, clothing and transportation. The kids will be learning English and adapting to a new culture and hopefully transition back to a peaceful life enjoying school, piano & dance classes, and swimming lessons. Once she is settled, she will look for work, as she had a career as an interpreter & language teacher (she speaks Ukrainian, English, German, French & Russian).

 

Olga is so very grateful & humbled to receive help. She is proud of being a wonderful mom, who has been independent, strong & capable as she has raised such loving children.

We are Zachary & Carolyn O'Neill - helping out however we can.  Carolyn works in sales & Zachary is a firefighter here in California.

 

PLEASE help Olga Kovalchuk - every single dollar goes directly to her & her children.