Facing hurdles, Albany couple tries to bring Ukrainian families to Vermont

They’ve meals, beds and a want to assist. They’ve flown to the Mexican border and have huge goals of changing a former hospital into refugee housing.

However a Vermont household that runs a faith-based nonprofit working with households with disabilities is witnessing firsthand the challenges Ukrainians are dealing with as they flee Russia’s struggle and attempt to get from Europe into the USA. 

Theresa and Scott Cianciolo, who’ve adopted sons from Ukraine, launched into motion after they believed they might carry their Ukrainian buddies to Vermont by flying them first to Mexico and crossing into the U.S. from there.

The Cianciolos stored in shut communication with the Shapavalova household, who had been in Poland, and Theresa flew to San Diego, hoping that eight of the Shapavalovas may cross over from Mexico by way of a course of known as “humanitarian parole.” 

However moments earlier than the Shapavalovas had been set to depart Poland on Thursday, their plan was thrown into chaos when their flight by way of London to Mexico Metropolis out of the blue required a brand new visa.

Hours later, President Joe Biden introduced his administration’s plan to carry Ukrainians to the U.S. on a extra everlasting foundation. The modifications meant Ukrainians making an attempt to enter the U.S. by way of the southern border could be denied entry.  

“They left their dwelling in jap Ukraine beneath Russian occupation, and so they’re sitting at an airport in Warsaw with children crying and saying, you already know, ‘What, what’s going on?’” Theresa mentioned of her calls with the Shapavalovas.

The greater than $15,000 in airplane tickets the Cianciolos had bought turned out of date. The Cianciolos’ plan, for now, was thwarted.

“We had been actually devastated,” Theresa mentioned, calling on Thursday from a Consolation Inn in San Diego, California, the place she had spent all day looking for shelter for her buddies.

Biden’s announcement on his “Uniting with Ukraine” program got here a month after he mentioned the U.S. would settle for 100,000 refugees. The plan permits refugees to remain stateside for as much as two years as soon as they’re granted “humanitarian parole,” the Division of Homeland Safety mentioned in an announcement. Refugees additionally might be granted work authorization.

About 15,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered the U.S. by way of Mexico, based on the Washington Submit, citing unnamed senior administration officers. Simply final week, Theresa was in Mexico working with a community of volunteers — many members of faith-based organizations — to assist with precisely that.

However that course of will stop on Monday, the identical day the Cianciolos had deliberate to carry the Ukrainian household over the border.

Regardless of the day’s panic, Theresa mentioned the Shapavalovas put the battle in perspective. They had been secure. They had been with one another, and so they weren’t listening to bombs.

With their nonprofit, Agape Ministries, the Cianciolos now plan to sponsor as much as 4 households — together with the Shapavalovas — by way of the brand new “Uniting for Ukraine” program. They anticipate to welcome Ukrainians to their dwelling in Albany in 4 to 6 weeks, Theresa mentioned. 

Agape Ministries already despatched visa purposes to the 4 households — all of whom have youngsters with disabilities — to organize for the opening of the April 25 utility window. If authorized by way of the “streamlined” course of, the refugees could be eligible for work authorization.

The Cianciolos — Scott, a pastor on the Free Will Baptist Church in West Charleston, and Theresa, a neuropsychologist — commit a lot of their lives to working with youngsters and adults with developmental disabilities, comparable to autism spectrum dysfunction and Down syndrome. That work first introduced them to Ukraine in 2014 the place they adopted twin boys, each of whom have Down syndrome, from an orphanage in Odessa. 

“We knew at that second that we weren’t finished with Ukraine,” Theresa mentioned. 5 months later, she was again within the nation and has made greater than 25 journeys since.

In Ukraine, the couple has labored with and advocated for individuals with disabilities, notably youngsters, instructing mother and father the way to assist their youngsters. 

Throughout that point, the Cianciolos met the Shapavalovas, who even have adopted youngsters with disabilities. 

Months after shifting to Ukraine in the beginning of this yr, the place Theresa taught little one growth, the approaching struggle pressured the Cianciolos to maneuver again to Vermont.

However again in Albany, the Cianciolos couldn’t cease desirous about their buddies in Ukraine.

They spoke every single day with the Shapavalovas, who lived north of the besieged metropolis of Mariupol. The Ukrainians tried and failed thrice to flee earlier than lastly succeeding, fleeing to the relative security of the Polish border. 

Already, the Cianciolo’s Northeast Kingdom group has rallied assist for the incoming refugees. Folks have dropped off garments and present playing cards to Walmart and native grocery shops, Theresa mentioned. Companies, church buildings and Vermont EMS have additionally discovered methods to assist, together with by donating provides. 

“It’s been overwhelming, the assist,” Theresa mentioned. 

When the Cianciolos included Agape Ministries in 2004, they by no means imagined their work would increase to Ukraine or to serving to refugees.

“We got here with the imaginative and prescient to start out a ministry to succeed in out to households and youngsters and adults with particular wants,” Scott mentioned. The couple operated camps in Irasburg, working with youth with disabilities, and Theresa labored with households to advocate for youngsters with autism and different studying disabilities in native faculties. 

Their dwelling, the previous Hilltop Faculty in Albany, used to deal with Ok-8 college students for greater than 30 years. Eight bedrooms, two residing rooms and kitchens, and greater than 5,000 sq. ft — the area is good for the Cianciolos, who’re at all times internet hosting friends. 

“We by no means ever have dinner to ourselves,” Theresa mentioned, laughing, “It’s a managed chaos.”

After years serving the group’s wants, the Cianciolos have developed a community of supporters. Agape’s 18-member board consists of three attorneys, two docs, accountants and even Rep. Vicki Robust, R-Albany, Theresa mentioned. 

Tracey Shadday, who lives a part of the yr in East Charleston and is a member of the Agape board, praised the Cianciolos’ management.

“They each have this tremendous quantity of power,” she mentioned. “It is past human, what they’re in a position to accomplish.”

Shadday has been in contact day by day with Sasha Shapavalova — the matriarch of the household — listening to her fears and praying along with her, she mentioned. Shadday helped buy airfare to carry the Shapavalovas stateside and has been gathering further donations for the household. 

Shadday can also be advising the Cianciolos on what could be their largest mission but.

Agape Ministries has thought-about buying the previous Derby Inexperienced Nursing Dwelling, a 23-unit facility in Derby owned by North Nation Hospital. The property is on the market.

The Cianciolos would hope to transform the power — or one prefer it — to housing for refugees and probably for adults with disabilities. They’ve already despatched a number of contractors to examine the property, and whereas some work is required, it’s been nicely stored whereas vacant and is as much as code, Theresa mentioned. 

Reached for remark Tuesday, North Nation Hospital mentioned it had no contact with the Cianciolos. Spokesperson Wendy Franklin mentioned hospital leaders discovered of Agape’s plans to purchase their property from Tuesday’s entrance web page of the Newport Every day Specific.

“We’re trying ahead to listening to from events,” Franklin mentioned. “We simply haven’t as of but.”

For now, the Cianciolos are grateful for the assist they’ve obtained. Though they should wait to welcome refugees, they mentioned they’re optimistic individuals and have already discovered silver linings within the delay. 

“Folks have been completely fantastic,” Theresa mentioned. “We have created loads of relationships in the neighborhood over 20 years, but it surely’s been actually astounding to see individuals step up.”