Help Us Help Our Family!

My name is Liz Krens and I'm a mother of four in Nanty Glo, PA. I'm spearheading this campaign on behalf of my sister-in-law and her family. Karina's family, including her father (Nick), Step-Mother (Rita), Brother (Renat), Sister (Arina), Cousins (Elina and her 3-year-old daughter), Aunt (Oksana), and Uncle (Vova), are all currently in Ukraine.

February 24th, 2022. War came to Ukraine. 

Imagine going about your normal day in Kyiv – coming home from work and trying to relax despite the news of an army looming on your doorstep. You brush your teeth getting ready for bed. Suddenly air raid sirens blare and all hell breaks loose as bombs begin to rain down on your beloved city.

You don't want to leave – this is your home, full of your possessions, family photos, heirlooms, growth charts on the wall – but what choice do you have? My family was thrust into that decision along with so many others in the days that followed.

Nick, Rita and their children Renat (15) and Arina (10) are currently spending their nights huddled in a damp, cold, and dark underground canning/food storage cellar in Luhansk. Imagine spending your nights listening as the bombs fall and the bullets whiz by outside close enough to make the windows and walls of your home shake and rattle. All you can do is hope and pray for a miracle to end the murder of innocent men, women, and children.

Nick lost his job due to the current war. Rita is an essential postal worker and now must work in a bulletproof vest. Their family is currently living on Rita's income alone of only $300 per month.

Elina fled west with her 3 year old child when their hometown Kharkiv was bombed, but they were unable to make it to safety. With no immediate family in the west, she now spends each day driving with her little girl from village to village, in search of somewhere safe to stay for a night or two.

Oksana and Vova fled the Russian onslaught in Kyiv and went west. After two days of travel and four more days of waiting in line to cross the border, Oksana and Vova were informed their request was ultimately denied due to a clerical error in their paperwork. 

Given that the entire population of Ukraine is fighting for their lives, the likelihood of this error being corrected is very small. Now, with barely anything to their name, Vova and Oksana wait at the border hoping and praying for a miracle.  

We can be that miracle! With your help, we can get much-needed supplies like food, water, and fuel to all of them. We can also help provide safe housing and security for their immediate needs. 

Our ultimate hopes are to see Oksana and Vova cross the border to safety where they can begin their travel to be with their family, MY family, in the United States. To help Nick, Rita, Renat, and Arina with food and basic needs costs to aid in their survival through this horrible nightmare that has become their reality. And to ensure that Elina and he little one have enough gas and food until they find a more permanent safe place to stay.

COST BREAKDOWN:

Oksana & Vova:

Hotel @ $50/Day (for 1 month) = $1500

Food @ 25/Day, for 30 days = $750

Visa Processing Fees and Travel (approximate): $3500

Elina & little one:

Gas for travel - $400

Food @ 25 per day - $750

Nick & Rita and children:

Food for 4 people for 30 days: $1000

Misc. Expenses / Emergencies for 8 total people: $2100

Every Little Bit Helps! Every $75 Donation = 1 day of Food and Shelter for Oksana and Vova, or a full tank of gas + food for Elina and child, or several days of produce and foods for Nick & Rita and their children.