Crest Ink - Volume 34 - Number 04

Ukrainians in the US, on the Uniting for Ukraine program, are not here as refugees. They are here as Humanitarian parolees, and are allowed to stay for 2 years. The government may change that status to Refugee, which would al- low them to stay longer, but as of now, that is not the case. They do receive some benefits and are eligible for a work permit. As for the process, on June 21st we applied for eligible programs for them and received those benefits in early August. The process for acquiring a work permit was stressful as they wanted a $410 fee and were told it was a 9 month wait. I contacted state representatives and senators to help expedite the process. Jeff Meiners also wrote a letter of intent to employ them. Maybe a combination of those things worked, or maybe the process got better, but we received their work permits beginning of September. It has been quite the journey, and although there are benefits for humanitarian parolees, it is not enough to have them be independent. So that is where sponsorship and community steps in. In the US: To get housing: you need a credit history, a job, and references to get housing, which is expensive and you need the first and last month’s rent. To get a vehicle, you need a credit history for a loan and a job history, and you need insurance. To get a phone you need a credit history and a job. We finally received their work permits and Olesia and Vlad have jobs here at Crest! Thank you to our Crest Foods family for their help and support in bringing this family to safety and to all of the employees for welcoming them! The biggest thing we want people to realize is that this war is not over.. It has fallen out of our headlines and seems like it is quieting down, it is still VERY much going on and its one of the most important things happening. It has escalated even more in the past few days. Olesia’s parents had to flee and now Russian Soldiers are currently occu- pying her parents’ home, where she grew up. Everyone in Ukraine is doing what they can, whether it is older village people giving their last 2 eggs to help feed the soldiers or a 50 year old woman training to be a medic and volunteering to help. That is exactly what Olesia’s mom is doing. She volunteered to help, and was sent to help the wounded in hostile areas, but there is not basic equipment for them. She is in need of tactical glasses, ear protection and a back pack. Basic equipment that she needs to protect herself. Olesia has sent what little money she has to help buy these things for her mom’s protec tion. There are many ways you can be a helper! Anyone can do this… One way is to be a sponsor. Welcome US has a website and a database now to match sponsors with people in need from Ukraine there are over 5000 Ukrainians waiting for Sponsors and there are plenty of other organizations and social platforms where people are looking for sponsors. You don’t have to do it alone, it can be a group of friends, a church, a business... They need support with

housing and food to start with and help with the documents for programs, connecting with schools, rides to ap-pointments. Other ways to help: You can help supply the needed equipment for the civilians signing up to help. You can pray for all of Ukraine that it will keep its strength and independence, and re turn to the beautiful country it was. It is not so hard to be that helper…As Ronald Reagan said “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”

October, November & December 2022 Crest Ink 19

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