Opportunity to Help Ukrainian Family: Soon To Arrive in Kansas City by Spencer Stith

We are partnering with Holmeswood Baptist Church and the International Community Church-KC to help sponsor the Pazyrko family of six (two adults / four children, including an infant) who will arrive in Kansas City this month. This Ukrainian family is originally from Kharkiv, Ukraine, and fled to Moldova to escape the destruction from the war. Once they arrived in Moldova, they applied to come to the US through the Department of Homeland Security’s Uniting for Ukraine program. 

Uniting for Ukraine provides a pathway for Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are outside the United States to come to the United States and stay temporarily, with a period of parole up to two years. Ukrainians participating in Uniting for Ukraine must have a supporter in the United States who agrees to provide them with financial support for the duration of their stay in the United States. The nice thing about this program is that a group of people can come together to support a Ukrainian family collectively and not just as an individual sponsor. 

Second Baptist is participating with the churches mentioned above to help sponsor this family by contributing $4,100 to pay for the airfare for this family to come to the US.  Once they arrive, we will continue to help them get settled and start their new life here. 

Over the next few months, the Pazyrko family will have some financial needs as they look for employment and prepare their kids for school. One of our partner churches has found them a place to rent but they may still need assistance paying for rent for the first few months. They will arrive with only the amount of baggage you can bring on a commercial airline.  They have left nearly everything else after fleeing from the destruction in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

There are several ways that you can be personally involved with helping meet the needs of the Pazyrko family as they get settled in the Kansas City area.

Food and Toiletries: This will be an ongoing need for the family, and there will be a particular need for diapers and other supplies for the infant.

Clothing: They will have access to a clothing pantry, but there may be some things the children may need that they can't find from the pantry.

Beds: The family is still in need of some bed frames and mattresses for sleeping.

Rental assistance:  The International Community Church-KC has found some housing and a vehicle for the family, but they will still need some assistance financially as it may take some time to come up with their rent until the parents figure out their employment opportunities.

Helping the Pazyrko family is not the only opportunity for 2BC to help Ukrainian refugees. We are completing a sponsorship application with the Uniting for Ukraine program for at least one more family.  Moreover there are few other Ukrainian families that have been resettled in the KC area in the past year through the International Community Church and Holmeswood connection.  They have some ongoing needs that you could help with as well.

If you would like to be involved in helping the Pazyrko family or be involved in the Uniting for Ukraine sponsorship of a future Ukrainian family, email Spencer at sstith@2bcliberty.org or call the church office (816) 781-2824 ext. 359.