Georgia Magazine - January 2023 - 26

community and their supporters have
used social media to promote cultural
events, raise funds, spread awareness
and learn the best ways they could help
the cause. Shakhnovsky noted one family
in Lawrenceville that responded within
24 hours to her request to host a
Ukrainian family.
" [The woman] and her husband
had an investment property that they
purchased that they didn't get a chance
to renovate yet. And she's like, 'They
can stay there as long as they want to,' "
Shakhnovsky says. " There's so many
stories like that that I'm just so impressed
with this community and how everyone
was willing to help. "
Good neighbors
Throughout the state, Georgians
have come together to help those
affected by the war despite having little
to no connection to Ukrainian heritage
or culture.
One such family in Dallas is hosting
a family from Odessa. James and Liz Kelly
received a call from their daughter, who
had a special request.
While working as a service missionHow
to help
* Polish Medical Mission, bit.ly/pmmdonate
* Project C.U.R.E., projectcure.org
* The Good Human Project,
4ukraine.carrd.co
* World Central Kitchen, wck.org
* Welcome.US, welcome.us
* Uniting for Ukraine, dhs.gov/ukraine
26 Georgia Magazine January 2023
Left: A Ukrainian boy and his dog adjust to their temporary home in a Polish
refugee camp. Right: Georgia residents Olga Fingerman and Maxim Poliashenko
prepare to leave Atlanta with 20 suitcases full of supplies for Ukrainians. For his
eff orts to bring aid and to translate for refugees, Poliashenko was awarded a
medal by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
ary in Ukraine in 2010, Lauren Kelly was having a tough time adjusting to
the culture and the language and was growing very homesick.
" Just when she needed it most, this Ukrainian family [the Ihnatievs]
just kind of stepped up and was really there for her, befriended her and
cared for her, " Liz Kelly says.
Lauren Kelly told her parents that the Ihnatievs were forced to
flee Odessa in February and had evacuated to Poland. With more than
5 million refugees crossing the Polish border, finding employment and a
way to sustain their family was a challenge.
Fortunately for the Ihnatiev family, the Kellys used their resources and
took advantage of the new federal program, Uniting for Ukraine, to expedite
the immigration process and get them to their new home in Dallas in May.
" They're really incredible, " Liz Kelly says. " They have so much
gratitude for the small amount that we could do to bring them here. They
have honor and pride and so much dignity. [It] was incredibly important
to them that, once they got here, they could take care of themselves. "
The father, Anatolii, and oldest son, Oleksandr, immediately began
working for James Kelly's landscaping company, and the entire family
enrolled in English classes.
Liz Kelly said she's been delighted to see the outpouring of support
from the Dallas community as well as from the Kellys' congregation at The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Dallas.
" When people found out we were doing this, it was surprising to me
how many people were so completely aware of the situation and had such a
desire to help, " she says. " And throughout our congregation, many members
have stepped up and donated clothing and supplies. They also give them
rides to appointments and help with transportation. "
Shakhnovsky says that efforts such as these are vital for Ukrainians'
future.
" I think it's so important to understand that Ukraine's survival right
now really depends on the world supporting it, " she says. " We definitely
need to continue to support it. "
Cameron Whitlock is a freelance writer who lives in Douglasville.
COURTESY MAXIM POLIASHENKO
COURTESY MAXIM POLIASHENKO
http://www.bit.ly/pmmdonate http://www.projectcure.org http://4ukraine.carrd.co http://www.wck.org http://www.Welcome.US http://www.welcome.us http://www.dhs.gov/ukraine
Georgia Magazine - January 2023

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