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The three Ukrainian families who sought refuge in the gracious arms of Rockbridge County’s Hosting Ukrainian Families will be relocating from their Lexington homes with the onset of summer.
“This is a happy event for us that they are moving, which means they are getting more confident in being here and even closer to self-sufficiency,” said Jerry Nay, leader of Hosting Ukrainian Families.
The first and second families – the Odemchuks and the Strezhyborodas – will be moving out of the area while the third family – the Tysiachnas – plan to remain in Lexington. Both the Odemchuks and the Strezhyborodas are relocating with the hopes of immersing themselves in Ukrainian churches and communities in their new neighborhoods.
Nay’s assistant, Kristina Lozinskaya, told The News-Gazette, “It’s very bittersweet … They are moving to where they will be happier, because being close to the Ukrainian disparate is very important to them. Svitlana [Tysiachna]’s family is very happy to stay in Lexington, but the other families will be moving to their relatives or more Ukrainians and the church, which is crucial.”
The Odemchuks will be moving to Ephrata, Pa., to reunite with the mother’s – Rymma – sister and brother-in-law. Eventually, Rymma and her sister will be joined by their brother and his eight children, who are currently in Poland. “It’s going to be a real family reunion,” Nay said.
Awaiting them in Pennsylvania is a new sponsor circle much like the sponsorship they found through HUF. Their sponsors will be driving to Lexington on May 27 to pick up the Odemchuck family of five and transport them to their new home, Nay noted.
Upon their arrival, Volodymr will begin working at a construction company similar to that of North Fork Lumber Company where he worked while he was in Lexington. The husband enjoyed his work at North Fork Lumber and is excited to continue in this line. North Fork Lumber reported to HUF that they will miss Volodymr and his work ethic when he leaves, Nay said. Over the summer, Rymma will be staying home with the three children, but she fully intends to work in a similar capacity as she had at Kendal in Lexington.
Rymma’s sister, Olha Strezhyboroda, and her family of four hope to move to Harrisonburg to join the Ukrainian church there. As of now, the Strezhyborodas have not made living arrangements and are struggling to do so, Nay told The News-Gazette. HUF is reaching out to the Lexington and Harrisonburg communities in the hopes of securing a home. Once they do settle on a place to live, the Strezhyborodas intend on moving in June.
After relocating, Andrii Strezhyboroda – the father – will begin his education to obtain his CDL, or Commercial Driver’s License. This training occurs in two parts, an academic section, and a skill section. While working to complete the academic portion, Andrii is allowed to utilize a Ukrainian to English translator. The skill portion of the training requires participants to test completely on their own without the help of a translator. This factor does not worry Nay, and he anticipates the Andrii’s CDL training will go well.
Grateful for the work and experience through her time at Kendall, Olha Strezhyboroda “tearfully” gave her resignation notice. Olha will stop working at Kendal on May 19 as she prepares to move and care for her two children as they get out of school for the summer, Nay told The News-Gazette.
The Tysiachnas are looking forward to remaining in the Lexington community. “They have grown to love Lexington and all of the people who have helped them here and in general the Lexington community,” Lozinskaya said.
While the family of five does not intend on leaving Lexington, they will be relocating from their house on Main Street to an apartment complex on White Street near Woods Creek Park. Nay noted that the owners of the apartment complex have been extremely cooperative with Hosting Ukrainian Families, and they are reaching out to assist the Tysiachnas throughout their move. Their new apartment will be available to them on June 1, but Phillip Clayton, the family’s primary sponsor, is giving them the entire month of June to move from the Main Street house to White Street to allow for a stress-free move, Nay said.
After the move, Svitlana will continue working virtually for the same international job she has maintained since leaving Ukraine. Her husband, Mykolaiv, will begin training for his Commercial Driver’s License, which he will complete through Mountain Gateway Community College, Nay mentioned. Similarly to Andrii Strezhyboroda, Nay believes that Mykolaiv will obtain his CDL with flying colors. HUF is currently exploring different partnerships with trucking companies to arrange for job opportunities once Mykolaiv and Andrii have completed their CDL training.
All three families have expressed great gratitude for the generosity of the community throughout their time in Lexington, Nay said. However, HUF’s need for community support doesn’t end once the two families leave Lexington. The organization will continue to fundraise in order to send off the Odemchuks and Strezhyborodas with adequate funds and to continue to support the Ukrainian family that remains.
“Once they leave – this is all with a lot of goodwill and happiness on our side that they are feeling so secure that they feel free to move – they understand that once they leave Lexington, we will be certainly happy to advise anybody or anything [like] how we might do something or who to contact, but our financial obligation does not follow them …” Nay commented.
Nay noted that as the two families move, they are considered secondary migrants, which concludes HUF’s legal obligation. Of course, the bonds HUF and its volunteers have formed with the families are everlasting and “we will continue to be in touch with the families,” Nay told The News-Gazette.
After the families leave and empty their Lexington houses, HUF will give back all leftover furnishings to other charity organizations in the community.
“The furnishings come to us by donation, and we intend to pass that along to benefit the community,” said Chip Honsinger, deputy director of HUF. The organization intends to deliver furnishings to the Hope House, Project Horizon’s Safe Space for Children, and Habitat for Humanity.
Those interested in continuing their support of Hosting Ukrainian Families can send donations to Grace Episcopal Church at 121 W. Washington St., Lexington, Virginia. There is also an option to donate via credit card at the organization’s website, hostingukrainianfamilies.org. Those with any questions can contact HUF during its office hours from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at (540) 463-4981, ext. 2107.
