Two community organizations in Austin welcomed 50 Ukrainian refugee families to city
Nataliia Kuznetsova relocated with her 5-year-old daughter in August from war-torn Ukraine. Now, with support from several community organizations focused on helping Ukrainian refugees, both of them are thriving.
"What we needed was support," Kuznetsova said through a translator. "Support because we were scared. We didn't know where to go, what to do or where to begin."
On Saturday, Cru City Austin and Texas 4 Ukraine distributed welcome boxes that included a variety of Texas and Ukrainian treats, a tea kettle and kitchen items to 50 Ukrainian refugee families at the Hill Country Bible Church.
During the event, families were provided with resources to help with relocations. Families and volunteers were also treated to performances showcasing Texan and Ukrainian music and classic food.
Anya Hopp, who is from the eastern part of Ukraine said she became a staff member at both organizations to help families escape the war-torn country. For Hopp, the mission is personal. Hopp, who has been in the U.S. for the last 20 years helped her mom evacuate in March 2022.
Hopp said after seeing the "pain, devastation, brokenness and fear," in her hometown she wanted to do more. As families relocate, Hopp said the organizations will help them find friendship, furnish the homes and apartments they rent, and help mitigate any PTSD symptoms.
"Friendship and offering a home-y place to come and eat a meal in fellowship," Hopp said. "That is a huge piece of recovery, to mitigate PTSD symptoms, to be able to be part of a community and be able to speak your language and enjoy your foods."
The support isn't a one-time thing, either.
"The goal is to make a connection with each family and offer to walk alongside them in their journey here in Central Texas," Suezean Matarazzo with Texas 4 Ukraine said in a news release. "Every Ukrainian family will be invited to a group that will meet for eight weeks to process the transition, trauma, grief, identity and belonging in the context of a small, caring community."
Kuznetsova said the support she has received from Cru City Austin and Texas 4 Ukraine has been the most powerful. She said the support has been able to help create a community that helps each other with everything they need.
"We are Ukrainian," she said. "We can move everyone to come down and to support each other because not everyone has American friends."
Kuznetsova said despite how great the Austin area has been, she wants to return home but will not be able to do that until she knows she and her daughter can live comfortable, relaxed and happy.
More: ‘We don’t know what will happen tomorrow;’ Ukrainians adjust to life in Westlake
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 50 Ukrainian refugee families welcomed to Austin by two organizations
