Atlanta: A place of refuge for Ukrainian evacuees

By Visitor Columnist ERIC ROBBINS, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Better Atlanta.

I’ve been a Jewish neighborhood builder for many years. I’ve lived by means of numerous episodes of conflict, famine, pure catastrophe and refugee crises that gripped the worldwide Jewish neighborhood.

This previous spring, I traveled to Poland’s border with Ukraine to witness the unfolding refugee tragedy. I spoke with refugees. I met many courageous folks risking their very own lives to avoid wasting lives. I assumed I had seen all of it.

However nothing might put together me for the Atlanta Jewish neighborhood’s lightning response to the wants of the Ukrainian folks when Russia first invaded their homeland. In a matter of weeks, Jewish Atlanta raised greater than $2.7M to assist the heroic work of our on-the-ground companions in Europe who have been housing, feeding and counseling Ukrainian Jews and their family members.

Donations got here in all sizes, from underneath $10 to 1000’s of {dollars}, and with transferring declarations of intent: 

• My household and I got here to America 30 years in the past from former USSR and it’s painful to see the ache and struggling of individuals of Ukraine.
• Guaranteeing the security of Jews world wide is the duty of each Jew residing in a free society who might help.

At this time, that unbelievable outpouring of compassion continues by means of a brand new fund referred to as AURA — Atlanta Ukrainian Reduction Help. Together with our neighborhood associate Jewish Household & Profession Providers, Jewish Atlantans are volunteering to befriend, consolation, financially assist and shelter Ukrainian evacuees — Jewish and non-Jewish — who’ve poured into our metropolis.

A current grant of $73,000 from the Jewish Federations of North America is amplifying AURA’s influence right here. A portion of the funding comes from the Boston-based Shapiro Basis which pioneered the idea of “volunteer circles,” — a resettlement mannequin the place native businesses associate with volunteers to assist a refugee or household discover and furnish housing, get jobs, study English, enroll youngsters in class, language assist, plus money help.

Zane Blechner, Program Supervisor, AURA at Jewish Household & Profession Providers (JF&CS) coordinates our native response. One problem is that many Ukrainians who fled the conflict entered different international locations in Europe after which got here right here by means of Mexico. From Mexico, the U.S. permitted entry by means of the southern border. Upon entry, Ukrainians obtained humanitarian parole standing and moved throughout the U.S. together with to Georgia.

In accordance with Zane, Ukrainians are eligible to use for a piece allow as soon as coming into the nation. Nevertheless, the work visa software comes with a payment of roughly $500 and a median wait time of 8 to 10 months. Whereas Ukrainians do have entry to use for native authorities and public advantages comparable to meals, medical and non permanent money help, they don’t seem to be eligible for presidency help comparable to housing or case administration by means of the refugee resettlement program.

Once more, Jewish Atlanta got here by means of, and rapidly. The Lotner household, members of Congregation Or Hadash, and Renee Videlefsky who chairs the congregation’s Ukrainian reduction work, grew to become a volunteer circle.

They “adopted” a big Ukrainian evacuee household from Kharkiv by means of JF&CS’s AURA fund. The household has a number of generations and consists of 17 folks and 6 young children. JF&CS discovered them a rental dwelling and was offering funding for the household to reside there, however the home nonetheless wanted furnishings. They have been arriving in simply days.

Whereas Videlefsky purchased requirements from Costco, Lotner arrange an Amazon Wishlist which was crammed inside a day. The Lotners secured furnishings and 7 further beds for the big household. They rented a U-Haul truck, and the household delivered furnishings to the house. When the evacuees arrived, the entire porch was coated with Amazon bins.”

Videlefsky discovered that the household included a younger child born as they have been coming into Germany and leaving Ukraine. Throughout their journey, they spent three days on the Mexican-U.S. border, sleeping on the bottom. “They’ve been by means of a lot. And they don’t converse English, however JF&CS supplied an interpreter. When the household discovered that our synagogue had been the one serving to with their wants, they burst out singing Hatikvah, the Israeli nationwide anthem. They have been so appreciative and wonderful,” Videlefsky stated.

Videlefsky added: “Once I first met them, they have been in shock. Their expertise in Tijuana was horrible. We put their beds collectively and acquired the home so as. Later that night, when all the things was calmer, they began singing Oseh Shalom in 12-part concord. And that’s after we noticed big smiles on their faces. We’re actually invested on this household. They’re buddies now. I really feel blessed to know them.”

Jewish custom says you aren’t obligated to finish the work, however neither are you free to desist from it. Confronted with disaster, Jewish Atlanta didn’t flinch. Our neighborhood’s extraordinary willingness to stand up personally and philanthropically for Ukrainians exemplifies this instructing and fills me with delight. Our collaborative humanitarian work continues, and we’re assembly this second of want with ardour and goal.

If you wish to get entangled, right here’s the best way to assist Ukrainian evacuees in Atlanta:

• Donate to Jewish Federation of Better Atlanta’s Ukraine Emergency Response Fund and the AURA Fund right here.
• “Undertake” a household. A number of synagogues and teams are working with JF&CS to help households. For extra info on how your synagogue or group can take part, please contact zblechner@jfcsatl.org or click on right here.

JF&CS intends to make the most of particular person volunteers who’ve expressed curiosity and might not be affiliated with a partnering group by connecting them to particular assignments or one-time tasks as wants come up. Particular person volunteers should full volunteer registration earlier than they’ll take part, together with making a volunteer profile, offering requested paperwork and passing a fundamental felony background test.

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