Fundraiser Will Aid Refugees From Ukraine

Just prior to March 19, Svitlana Shekh, living in the Donetsk region of Ukraine with her two young daughters, made the decision to leave. The war was intensifying. "Every night Russian fighter jets flew overhead," she recalled. "We had spare clothing next to us (as we slept), so we could pick up and leave any minute."

On March 19, Svitlana drove the three to the Russian border. Donetsk has been under Russian occupation since 2014. The Shekhs crossed the Russian border and drove more than 1,500 miles north to the Latvian border, where Svitlana was advised to think hard about crossing because she would not be allowed to return. Svitlana's husband, David, was waiting for her in Latvia, and she chose to go. David had been working in Germany as a ceramic tile installer. From Latvia, the family drove more than 1,200 miles to Germany, and from there they were able to fly to Boston, landing on June 3.

The Shekhs came as part of a group of five families, but there are many more who want to leave Ukraine or are internally displaced persons and in need of help, according to Konstantin Reznik, a member of Bethany Slavik Church in Ephrata. The church has organized the Refugee Welcome Fundraising Dinner, which will be held on Friday, Sept. 16, at the Ephrata Business Center, 400 W. Main St., at 6 p.m. The meal will feature refugees sharing their stories and opportunities for attendees to sponsor families for housing, food, and transportation. Homemade foods that will be served will include borscht, katleti, and galupsi. Tickets, which are necessary to attend, may be obtained at http://www.bethanyslavic.org/events/refugee-welcome-dinner/2022-09-16.

Reznik said that the church transformed its missions ministry into the Ukraine War Refugee Aid Fund on the second day of the invasion of Ukraine and began raising money to help support those still in Ukraine and families that had come to the U.S. "The war is raging on even though it's not on the front pages anymore," said Reznik. "We are continuing to help evacuate people."

The Shekhs speak to family members in Ukraine daily. The current situation there is a stark contrast to the Shekhs' new life in Ephrata. "There's no public water," translated Reznik, who noted that water is available twice a week for a few hours at a time. "You will not see any civilian men on the street," Reznik said. "If a man walks outside, he will be conscripted to (serve on) the frontlines." Most businesses are closed because there are no men to work. Women drive taxis or sell produce to support their families. Before Svitlana left, she and her mother took over her father's meat deliveries because he could not go outside.

Svitlana and David have avoided talking about the war in front of their children, but the situation did not go unnoticed by oldest daughter Nikol. While looking at a possible home in Ephrata, Nikol noticed the size of the basement. "Look how big the basement is," she told her father. "It's a great place to hide from the bombs."

"We tried to limit their exposure, but they still pick up (things)," said David, who noted the conversation brought tears to his eyes.