The Glens Falls Community Says “Hello, and Welcome” to Ukrainian Refugees

As the war in the Ukraine approaches its first-year anniversary it appears that the war will not stop for the time-being… So the Glens Falls community is working to help Ukrainian refugees relocate. With help from the Adirondack Welcome Circle – a volunteer organization that sponsors refugee families – members of the Glens Falls community are working to help these refugees find housing, and gain employment.

Those who are fleeing the fighting in Ukraine are often leaving with only the bare necessities, and entering an unfamiliar area where they may not speak the language. Each refugee and refugee family need some type of support, and members of the community are stepping up to help in any way that they can – like Linda Plante. Linda is a member of the Glens Falls community, and she found out about the Ukrainian refugees because she hosted a garage sale; that was when she met Oksana Smith and learned about the refugees’ plight. 

“Oksana stopped at my garage sale and she had three lovely Ukrainian women with her. As the women browsed through the garage sale, Oksana and I began to talk. That was when I learned that Oksana was helping Ukrainian refugees. Oksana would welcome the refugees into her home while the Adirondack Welcome Circle would look for more permanent housing for them” Linda explained.  

“Oksana is doing everything that she can to help these refugees find housing, gain employment, and try to feel comfortable in their new surroundings” Linda noted… This led Linda to ask herself the question, “What can I do?” Linda came up with the idea of gift baskets. The gift baskets are ‘Hello & Welcome’ baskets that include gift cards in an amount ranging from $10-$50, and small personal items for the families! “By giving them gift cards, it helps them financially and provides items that they specifically need. It helps them explore the area and find where these shops and restaurants and stores are located… It may even help them find a job” Linda said.  By creating the ‘Hello & Welcome’ baskets, she feels that she is contributing to the community.

Linda has already distributed six gift baskets with a variety of items and gift cards, and she’s hoping to create six or seven more baskets and be able to distribute them over the Easter holiday. Linda is asking for gift card donations to help the refugees. If you would like to donate a gift card please call (518)761-9818.

Oksana Smith is helping by opening her home and providing needed support for these families. Oksana has been in this country for 26 years, and her family has recently been able to escape the fighting in Ukraine: “The war is very emotional for me. I was lucky because my grandson came five days before the war started. So I was just protected by God. All of my family is here but; ALL of my family are the 46-million people who are left behind. I have been here 26 years, my friends are there, my memories are there” Oksana declared. 

She recalls the story of one refugee woman who felt the need to return to the Ukraine: “I was sponsoring one woman who was here for three months. She has two sons and a husband still in the Ukraine. She came to this country in May, and in September the war had gotten worse… One morning, she said ‘I have to go back, my sons are there and I shouldn’t be here.’ We bought her a ticket and she went back.” Oksana recalled. Oksana has been in contact with this woman since she returned home. 

Oksana has also helped refugees fill out the required paperwork to find jobs: “They want to work… They can get working papers, but each form costs $410. That is a yearly income in Ukraine. These families are concerned about the cost of the form and filling out official paperwork that they are not familiar with” Oksana has helped families both fill out the paperwork and find employment.

Oksana is touched by the effect that she is able to have in small ways… In some parts of Ukraine, there is no heat and no electricity. Oksana would like to thank the Adirondack Welcome Circle and the community for helping the refugees though this difficult time.

For more information on ways to help, contact the adirondackwelcomecircle.org