Zori Opanasevych and her sister, Oksana Vakulich, organized a fundraiser lunch to help bring Ukrainians to Alaska. |
The first flight is this week, and the others will arrive later this month. Most of those coming have strong family ties to Alaska. About 150 are children.
Ukrainians coming to Alaska through efforts organized by New Chance Inc. will be arriving on commercial flights rather than chartered planes.
They are being processed for entry into the United States through the new Uniting for Ukraine program of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. That is a change from the original plan and will require longer up-front processing times but may ultimately even more Ukrainians than the original 600 will make it to Alaska.
Instead of three chartered flights, small groups will fly commercially as soon as paperwork is in order. Each will be connected with a host family when they arrive.
New Chance, with Ukrainian clergy and membership, already has been helping Ukrainians displaced by the war with food, clothing and employment in Alaska. About 50 have made it here so far. The work has expanded to help Ukrainians living in camps in Poland and still in Ukraine. In March, Rasmuson Foundation provided a $25,000 grant to help with local efforts.
“Our board is unanimous in the desire to help,” said Diane Kaplan, Rasmuson Foundation president and CEO. “Those escaping the horrors in their homeland will be our neighbors in Alaska. We are glad to do what we can to support those who have lost so much get to a safe and welcoming place.”
Businesses already have expressed interest in the skillsets they will bring. New Chance, family members and other volunteers all are providing help in housing, feeding and employing the new arrivals. Those interested in donating or volunteering can do so through New Chance Inc. at UkraineReliefProgram.com.
“We are humbled Rasmuson Foundation came alongside our effort to better the lives of these arriving Ukrainians and grateful to the entire Alaskan community for their incredible support,” said New Chance program director Zori Opanasevych.
One of the donors came to the United States 47 years ago with the help of an anonymous contribution. Today he is one of Anchorage’s most successful businessmen and told New Chance this is “a life I would have not been afforded otherwise.
The support will help “give the same opportunity to future Alaskans,” said Opanasevych, who previously worked for Catholic Social Services providing refugee assistance.
"We are so grateful that New Chance organized humanitarian flights to help those who have lost their homes and family members as a result of the war," said Robin Dempsey, CEO of Catholic Social Services. “We fully support this effort.”
For more, go to: https://ukrainereliefprogram.com/
Edited By: Mary Kauffman, SitNews
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