“We were stuck at the border for three days,” Dmytro says simply. “It was so cold, and there was a shortage of food.”
Nineteen-year-old Dmytro, his younger brother Vladyslav, and their mother fled from Ukraine at the start of the war. In the crush of people seeking safety, they endured cold and hardship before making their way at last to New York.
We can only imagine what it would be like to have our dreams derailed by war. Dmytro was on a path to study political science in college when they had to flee their home. When they arrived in New York, he says, “We didn’t have money for all of us.”
Dmytro thought he’d have to make a very tough choice — to give up his education and go to work to support his family. Then they learned about our soup kitchen and food pantry. “I got excited,” he shared, “because when I first came here there were a lot of people like us. People here are so friendly. It is really amazing that some people help others, because you never know what can happen to you. I am really thankful.”
The food pantry “has helped us live easier,” Dmytro says. Now he and his brother are attending a Ukrainian school is the city, working hard on their English and following their dreams.
With fresh ingredients from the food pantry, they’ve even been able to recapture a little bit of home — making a dumpling called vareniki with flour, potatoes, and sour cream. But Dmytro is quick to say that he likes American food, too, especially after trying pizza.
Thanks to supporters of Holy Apostles, we’re able to support Dmytro and his family in their new home.
