Six priorities for displaced Ukrainians
My daughter and I spent part of Labor Day weekend supervising tumbling and squealing children in a bounce house at Matthews Alive.
During the afternoon two children approached the inflatable with the same excited expression as previous bouncers yet responded to my well-worn instructions about where to leave shoes and bounce-house safety with quizzical expressions.
One of the adults with them bent over to the children and translated my words into Ukrainian. The children scrambled to comply and were soon bounding through the obstacle course maze.
I recognized the language because I also spoke Ukrainian as a child.
My grandparents had immigrated in the 1920’s and created a community where I grew up singing Ukrainian songs, folk dancing and studying grammar, history and the geography of the region.
The young children and their companions had arrived in the Charlotte area two days prior and were staying with a family of naturalized Americans who were also from Ukraine.
The following weekend my daughter and I hosted a dinner for the group. I prepared Southern chicken, sides and banana pudding.
They brought steaming stuffed peppers, fried zucchini and questions about extensive paperwork they had received from the Department of Social Services.
Seated around the table, they told me about their journey to North Carolina, their immediate needs and longer-term concerns.
Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion require a supporter who is already based in the U.S.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services established the Uniting for Ukraine program in April. The U.S. Government will grant up to 100,000 individuals ‘humanitarian parole’ for a period of up to two years.
The process began for my guests when their friend, who was already living in the U.S., filed Form 1–134 on the myUSCIS web portal committing to provide financial support for two adults and four children.
Once she was approved the group received authorization to travel and had to arrive in American within 90 days to request parole at the port of Entry.
After parole has been granted, Ukrainians may apply for Office of Refugee Resettlement benefits and services
Several agencies administer these services and require specific documentation as proof of a parolee’s status.
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization is available on the myUSCIS web portal. Parolees can request a Social Security Number in part 2. USCIS will transmit the required information to the Social Security Administration. SSA will send the card directly to the address specified by the I-765 applicant.
The social security number is necessary to apply for programs that provide parolees with cash, medical care and food.
In North Carolina, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is called Food and Nutrition Services (FNS).
The federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF), which provides cash, is called Work First.
Parolees may find forms for FNS, Work First and Medicaid using the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services portal ePass and apply in person at Department of Social Services in Mecklenburg or Union counties Monday — Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Learning English is a priority for children and adults
Children may be enrolled in public school. The International Center in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools helps students whose primary language is not English get settled in an appropriate CMS classroom.
Union county requires parents or guardians to complete an online application. Once it is completed, the family will be contacted by the assigned home school.
Free online English classes are offered by Voice of America for children and adults.
The Sacramento County Office of Education created USA Learns in 2008. It offers online English lessons and classes to prepare for U.S. citizenship.
Residents of Mecklenburg and Union counties may also take advantage of the robust programming available at our area’s public libraries including access to Transparent Language Online classes.
Residents may apply for a Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library card at any local branch with a current picture id and proof of current address. The library offers in-person classes and online conversation clubs for English learners.
Residents of Union County may apply for their library cards online.
Organizations in the Charlotte area have programs to help refugees and are poised to help Ukrainians who have arrived recently
Crisis Assistance Ministries offers a food pantry, free store and a furniture bank.
Jewish Family Services Crisis Response and Assistance may help with emergency financial assistance and a food pantry.
International House in uptown Charlotte is home to citizenship preparation, English language classes, cultural program and an immigration law clinic.
Several Slavic churches have established congregations in the Charlotte area and Greek Orthodox churches continue to welcome newcomers
Church of New Hope Good News Church
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral Nativity of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Church Reigning Mother God Russian Orthodox Church
St. Basil the Great Eastern Catholic Parish St. John Ukrainian Catholic Mission
St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church
Ukraine is known as the ‘Bread Basket of Europe’ and has a tradition of hospitality and a distinctive cuisine. Some recipes require ingredients that are only available in specialty shops
A & A International Food European Delights have kobassa delivered on Wednesdays!
Diana Deli European Food is in the same neighborhood and has a reputation for delicious bread.
European Food Market is in a converted gas station and has a large assortment of dumplings.
Last Christmas I found cherry varenyky at Golden Key European Food Market.
Super G Mart is an enormous grocery store with food from all over the world, including Asia and Eastern Europe.
As dinner progressed the challenges facing these individuals and their determination to overcome them became apparent.
They were worried about husbands and family still in Ukraine and anxious to secure the benefits available for Humanitarian Parolees in order to adequately care for their young children and relieve the financial burden on their supporting family.
As soon as possible, the adults need to find a job, learn to drive, buy warm clothes, soothe their children’s fears and open a bank account, all in a foreign language.
After the banana pudding was eaten, the youngest guests gave our family dog a farewell pat and the group left.
I wondered how my grandparents coped when they first arrived, over 100 years ago and I resolved to help where I could.
