From the bustling city of SALT LAKE CITY, a tale of compassion and resilience unfolds. Saydi Shumway, a dedicated therapist, was already juggling a myriad of responsibilities, from her work to her family and church duties. The thought of adding another commitment to her already full plate seemed daunting. However, when the war in Ukraine erupted in February 2022, she found herself unable to turn a blind eye to the plight of the refugees fleeing the conflict.
At 48, Shumway discovered two important truths: her ability to manage her commitments could expand, and she didn’t have to shoulder this new responsibility alone.
She connected with WelcomeNST, a nationwide nonprofit that provides resources to communities to aid refugees. “The existence of a model made it feasible,” Shumway shared. She wasn’t alone in her endeavor; over a dozen families from Holladay and Salt Lake City joined her in creating a comprehensive support network for their new guests. “Our aim is to empower these families to become self-sufficient.”
In January 2023, they welcomed a Ukrainian mother-daughter pair, Hanna (pronounced “Anna”) and her 8-year-old daughter Margaryta, affectionately known as Margot. Accompanying them was Hanna’s colleague, Marianna.
Shumway explained that it’s common for women like Hanna and Marianna to travel together, as Ukrainian men of military age are required to serve in the army. This new “family unit” arrived with their pet cat, Alice.
Hanna shared her harrowing experience in a GoFundMe campaign post that raised over $35,000. “At 4:45 a.m., I heard explosions and saw pillars of fire and smoke outside our windows. There was a smell of burning I will never forget. I woke my daughter and said, ‘We are being bombed!'” Hanna wrote. ”Thus our life was divided between ‘before’ and ‘after.’ I grabbed my child and our bag of documents and we hid in a neighbor’s basement for 10 days.”
When the Russian military began targeting civilian homes, they fled to the railway station and escaped. They found refuge in Lviv, near the Poland-Ukraine border, living without heat or power until they found sanctuary in Salt Lake City. More than a year later, they are flourishing in their new home.
White House Provides Financial Support for Refugee Families
The three Ukrainian women are among the over 230,000 individuals who sought refuge in the U.S. by April 2024 under the Uniting for Ukraine program.
On World Refugee Day, June 20, the White House announced that private funding would be available to communities hosting refugees.
Sponsor groups can receive over $2,400 for each refugee they take in, amounting to nearly $10,000 for a family of four. This grant is available to groups who apply before July 31.
“The purpose of the funding is to eliminate obstacles and facilitate the process,” said Elizabeth Davis-Edwards, the founder of WelcomeNST. “There’s an overwhelming global need, and more pathways than ever before are open for families to come to the U.S.”
However, the future of these pathways remains uncertain, creating a sense of urgency, she added.
WelcomeNST has assisted refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. In most states, refugee families receive approximately three to six months of funding. They are assigned a caseworker, enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for groceries, and their children are enrolled in public schools, explained Davis-Edwards.
“I’ve observed numerous families, and I can’t comprehend how anyone could manage this without support,” she said.
Contrastingly, Utah’s Department of Workforce Services supports refugees for up to two years. This office also encourages community organizations to fill in gaps left by the state government. “You’ve got an actual state system that puts its money where its mouth is,” Davis-Edwards said. There are nearly 70,000 refugees living in Utah.
Utah is particularly adept at stepping up to help refugees, a fact that remains relatively unknown, according to Davis-Edwards. Close-knit communities and strong religious support are among the reasons why. Over 80% of the communities engaged with WelcomeNST are people of faith. Many of them discover the nonprofit through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ JustServe initiative, which connects volunteers with service opportunities.
The state’s history traces back to refugee settlements of pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who fled religious persecution.
“(Utahns) understand the pain caused by forced migration and appreciate the contributions of refugees in our communities,” Their Story is Our Story, a Salt Lake City refugee nonprofit, says on their website.
What is it like helping refugees as a community?
Before Hanna, Marianna, and Margot arrived in Salt Lake City last year, Shumway and her team had already raised enough money to cover half their rent for over a year. People were eager to help in any way they could, Shumway said.
WelcomeNST assists communities in forming groups to help incoming refugees with transportation, health care, education, cultural integration, and employment.
“Our teams were quite active in the first six to eight months,” said Shumway. “Lots of transportation needs, lots of connecting them to government resources, lots of making sure they felt settled in their house.” She expressed particular pride in her team’s initiative to invite Hanna, Marianna, and young Margot to Sunday dinner or to take them on outings, like a trip to the mountains.
When the Ukrainian women first visited Shumway’s home for dinner, they were still learning English. They communicated through Google Translate at the time, but since then, they have learned to speak English with the help of some classes.
In another instance, the Shumway family took Hanna to the Utah Refugee Center downtown, where Hanna was inspired to dream of a different life in the U.S. She was a pharmacist in Ukraine, as was Marianna. But her eyes were now set on being of service to other refugees. Shumway said Hanna got a job as an assistant at Catholic Community Services, exactly what she hoped to do. Her first day is next week, Hanna told the Deseret News in a text message.
“Living in Utah for over a year has been an incredible journey for my daughter and me,” she said. Hanna expressed her gratitude to her sponsors for supporting her in learning a new language and helping her start a career while her daughter adjusted to a new world.
“We feel happy and welcomed here and see endless opportunities for a bright future. We couldn’t have done this without our sponsors’ help, and we are forever grateful,” she said.
Marianna struggled to find consistent employment and faced difficulty adjusting to working as a lunch lady at the local high school, especially since she comes from an educated background, said Shumway. But she sponsored her son Oleg, who is in his early 30s and reunited with Marianna on Wednesday. Shumway said she expects Oleg to be of great help to his mother.
When she arrived, Margot didn’t know a single word of English. “She was very scared. I think she was just so confused about why she was leaving her home,” said Shumway. Margot now speaks English well and has “a vibrant personality,” as well as a lot of friends, Shumway said.
“She’s since really blossomed,” said Shumway. “The mom and daughter, they really want to stay forever.”
I agree with the sentiment that Utah does a great job in supporting its refugees. Their belief in helping those in need and their resilience in providing resources and assistance truly shines through.
I agree, Utah’s support for refugees showcases their commitment to helping others in need. Their efforts truly demonstrate belief and endurance in providing a helping hand.
Great example of compassion and dedication towards helping those in need. Utah should be commended for their efforts in supporting refugees.
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