We often take our peaceful and safe lives for granted, which makes it difficult to picture what is happening on the other side of the world. Marilyn Redegeld Ross of Raymond has decided to do what she can to help those who are being affected by the war and it all started when she began writing songs about the war. Now she’s looking to assist a family in relocating to Maine.
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| A Raymond composer is seeking a co-sponsor to bring this Ukrainian family to Maine from the war-torn nation. The family is seeking peace and medical treatment for the father while looking to re-establish their lives in America but needs help to do that. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
Over time, her passion for Ukraine became greater and she wanted to do more. Last summer, she read an article in The Windham Eagle about a Ukrainian family that a Windham family sponsored. After contacting some people, Redegeld found and chose a family who she wanted to sponsor and worked every day preparing an apartment for them in her basement.
“I sponsored an 18-year-old last November and a family with two children who arrived in February,” says Redegeld. “My son and I picked them up at Logan Airport. Both days were magical and inspiring. They are such humble and grateful people. And it has been so humbling to be able to help them.”
Now, the family has decided to move to the city where their new jobs will be closer.
“There were so many Ukrainians that reached out to me, and there was one family in particular that I wish I could have sponsored sooner, but I could only do so much. I have been talking to them via Facebook since last fall. Just a couple weeks ago, Andri, the son of the family, wrote to me and said that things were getting worse and asked me if I could help.”
After finding out that the family she sponsored earlier was moving out, she told Andri that she could try to sponsor him and his family.
Andri, his sister, and their parents all had jobs before the war began, but now they are only working for pennies.
“We don’t look forward to the next day as life is scary to think about, not knowing if our village will be hit by rocket shelling or drones,” said Andri. “Food is scarce and expensive. We are growing a vegetable garden that we are depending on and have chickens.”
They are anxious to make a fresh start, work again and live in peace.
“People live in poverty, prices are high, salaries are low, there are few jobs, people live on pennies, living one day at a time,” said Andri. “Nobody here thinks about the future because no one knows if it will be. The chaos, fear, and shock is indescribable; you don’t know where the rocket will fall. I hope that when we move to America, we will start everything from a clean sheet; America is a country of opportunities. The only dream is to live in peace and in peace to earn money for a house or a car, and to live in safely and in abundance.”
Natalia, Andri’s sister, works in the social protection of people in Ukraine.
“The first month when we thought about moving, it was very scary,” said Natalia. “I work for the city, and we received people around the clock, those who had lost their homes, and the army also had to help, send aid. But then we learned about our father’s illness — thyroid disease — and that he immediately needed surgery and rehabilitation.”
Redegeld is looking for a co-sponsor that can help her get this family to Maine.
“I am trying to do it on my own, but they require strong finances on paper,” she says. “The application is
on a government website through USCIS called Uniting for Ukraine. It does not require a credit check and it is mainly to show that people will be watching out for them and making sure they don’t sink while they are getting established and settled in their new community.”
She is hoping that some members of our community will help with co-sponsoring, as well as donating some items which they will need. This family will also need jobs and are motivated and speak some English.
“Helping these Ukrainians is the most rewarding and humbling thing I’ve ever done,” says Redegeld. “I know if you are willing to open your heart and help in some way you will feel the same joy that I feel every day I see their smiling faces.”
For more information or if you can help, please contact Marilyn Redegeld Ross at Robin.maryilyn68@yahoo.com or 207-310-3653. <
“We don’t look forward to the next day as life is scary to think about, not knowing if our village will be hit by rocket shelling or drones,” said Andri. “Food is scarce and expensive. We are growing a vegetable garden that we are depending on and have chickens.”
They are anxious to make a fresh start, work again and live in peace.
“People live in poverty, prices are high, salaries are low, there are few jobs, people live on pennies, living one day at a time,” said Andri. “Nobody here thinks about the future because no one knows if it will be. The chaos, fear, and shock is indescribable; you don’t know where the rocket will fall. I hope that when we move to America, we will start everything from a clean sheet; America is a country of opportunities. The only dream is to live in peace and in peace to earn money for a house or a car, and to live in safely and in abundance.”
Natalia, Andri’s sister, works in the social protection of people in Ukraine.
“The first month when we thought about moving, it was very scary,” said Natalia. “I work for the city, and we received people around the clock, those who had lost their homes, and the army also had to help, send aid. But then we learned about our father’s illness — thyroid disease — and that he immediately needed surgery and rehabilitation.”
Redegeld is looking for a co-sponsor that can help her get this family to Maine.
“I am trying to do it on my own, but they require strong finances on paper,” she says. “The application is
on a government website through USCIS called Uniting for Ukraine. It does not require a credit check and it is mainly to show that people will be watching out for them and making sure they don’t sink while they are getting established and settled in their new community.”
She is hoping that some members of our community will help with co-sponsoring, as well as donating some items which they will need. This family will also need jobs and are motivated and speak some English.
“Helping these Ukrainians is the most rewarding and humbling thing I’ve ever done,” says Redegeld. “I know if you are willing to open your heart and help in some way you will feel the same joy that I feel every day I see their smiling faces.”
For more information or if you can help, please contact Marilyn Redegeld Ross at Robin.maryilyn68@yahoo.com or 207-310-3653. <
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