Local Ukrainian Support
The following was submitted by Decatur resident Evan Eisenmann
Olga Laishevkina and her two sons, Maksym and Misha, migrated from Ukraine to America about 6 months ago. Laishevkina prayed about how she can use her skills and has a dream of opening a restaurant.
The Laishevkina family had only four to six weeks to pack up what they could to leave Dniproruane, Ukraine to go further from the border of Russia, where it is being occupied. They then traveled to Latvia.
After they moved back to Ukraine, the agency “United for Ukraine” provided Ukrainian citizens a pathway of opportunity to come to the United States by matching them up with host families. Their host family is Bryce and Hannah Arnold.
“They were in Ukraine to Latvia, back to Ukraine, because Latvia was so overpopulated, it was hard to get food, housing, anything.” said Hannah Arnold.
“When we first heard about it, we could not believe that families would help another family.” said Laishevkina.
“We feel like they were supposed to be matched with us,” responded Hannah Arnold as she smiled. “The boys get along well and they also fight a lot. They feel like family,”
When they came to America, Laishevkina noted, “It was very scary, but everything was going to be ok. The host family did so much for us. It wasn’t as [much] stress and we did not feel like immigrants.”
The Arnolds are providing the financial support for the Laishevkinas. Olga Laishevkina, who once was a lawyer, and had her own grocery store, had been trying to find a job she could do with her limited English. She could not get her work permit for three months. Finally, she found part time work with a caterer, which is something she loves.
When Maksym, age 17, was asked what he likes to do. He responded, “Volleyball, chess and videogames. We have a lot of different food here. People in America are calm, they are not afraid because they are protected. They don’t have fences on every house.”
Maksym stated that the thing he misses most about Ukraine is the transportation, explaining that buses are very
advanced in Ukraine.
When the U.S. government suspended Ukrainian driver’s licenses, it stressed a lot of Ukrainians. On January 31st, the 17-year old Maksym stood with State Representative Matt Lehman at the Indiana State House in defense of Ukrainians needing their driver’s licenses. The bill passed House Bill B156B.
Now able to drive, Olga wants to start a restaurant and is cooking up Ukrainian food on a test run. The Laishevkina’s and other Ukrainians are having a fundraiser to help with finances. They will be serving Ukrainian food on Saturday, February
11, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Dine in or carry out. They will be serving the meals at 5514 South Anthony Boulevard, Fort Wayne.
“Our expenses have been around $1000 a month with car, apartment, insurance and grocery needs,” stated Hannah Arnold.
For those interested in giving, the money will go to Arnold’s hosting
Olga and to Hannah’s son, Evan Arnold, who is hosting a Ukrainian named Oleg who also needs a car. Gifts can be sent to Life Church, 428 S Oak St, Bluffton IN, designated for the Arnold families or the Ukraine fund. There are a number of churches in need of assistance to help support the Ukrainians as more are still arriving.