Utah woman helps group of 11 Ukrainians arrive safely in Salt Lake City

Final month, KSL’s Erin Cox shared the story of a Utah girl who met Ukrainian refugees in Poland and was working to convey them right here to the Beehive State. 

Whitney Holcomb visited Poland in March to assist Ukrainian refugees. That’s the place Holcomb met Evgeny Zavoloka, who she calls “Eugene.”  

Zavoloka’s household and associates make a gaggle of 11. All of them evacuated Ukraine shortly after the Russian-Ukraine battle started, however they by no means anticipated the Polish shelters they’d been staying in would grow to be extra everlasting residences.  

Although grateful for the shelter, Zavoloka stated they’ve been residing in an workplace house that was by no means meant to be a house — with a whole lot sharing a couple of loos on every ground.  

In mid-June, Holcomb did a zoom name with Zavoloka and KSL to speak about what they have been experiencing. At the moment, Holcomb hoped to sponsor Zavoloka and his group of 11 by the federal program Uniting for Ukraine.  

“We submitted them seven weeks in the past and we nonetheless haven’t heard again on these,” Holcomb stated.

 As a substitute of ready to listen to again, Holcomb and her family determined to use once more. After three submissions, Holcomb bought a name.  

“We bought their approvals all completed,” Holcomb stated.

After months of worrying and ready, Zavoloka and his group had three days earlier than their flight to Salt Lake Metropolis, the place a big welcoming occasion waited, holding balloons, “welcome” indicators and flowers.  

“Everybody else appeared as excited as I used to be, and so they’ve by no means met them earlier than, however all of them felt like they know them,” Holcomb stated. 

The primary emotions for Zavoloka have been security and safety.  

“After that cool, beautiful nature, stunning individuals who at all times smile,” Zavoloka stated. “I feel that these folks don’t fake, they smile from the center.” 

Even the issues most wouldn’t discover by their travels, Zavoloka picked up — like how useful airport safety was with their immigration course of.  

“They attempt to assist us, and in the event that they took a very long time, they apologized each time,” Zavoloka stated. “They gave us water and requested, ‘What do you want?’ After that, I relaxed.”  

For a second, Zavoloka and his group of 11 discovered peace in Utah and at Holcomb’s house. 

“They provide us like heaven,” Zavoloka stated.

Holcomb stated she realized her Ukrainian associates had been with out many comforts for the previous 5 months.  

“So we need to present them with happiness,” Holcomb stated.

Inside their first three days in Utah, Holcomb observed how attentive her Ukrainian company have been. 

Earlier than their arrival, Holcomb and her husband lived of their house. Now, the couple lives within the basement whereas their 11 Ukrainian company occupy the principle ground and upstairs. But, the added 11 has not made the home chaotic and even crowded. Holcomb referred to as their firm a present. 

“They’re very conscientious,” Holcomb stated. “Each time I walked by the entrance door, the sneakers are all straight and so they’re always doing the dishes.”

Ukrainian company line up sneakers at entrance door out of courtesy to their hosts.

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Whereas their Ukrainian associates have taken care of the small print round the home, Holcomb and her neighbors have deliberate outings to indicate them across the state. Within the first three days, they went to the pool twice, went for a mountain bike trip and a gyroplane trip.  

“I feel they wish to simply loosen up, take a breath, however everybody’s so excited for them to be right here, together with myself,” Holcomb stated

The thrill of their first week within the U.S. has not been diminished by the quantity of paperwork and arduous work to construct a brand new life.  

“I don’t know English effectively, like I would like,” Zavoloka stated. “I need to open my work and provides folks my information, and perhaps stress about these and my future.” 

Holcomb helps Zavoloka navigate these stresses, and so they’re working with the Catholic Group Providers to assist Zavoloka achieve U.S. citizenship.  

Holcomb additionally hopes to assist a few of her different Ukrainian associates that she met in Poland.