The mainstream media is filled with headlines of how the United States is helping Ukraine, but under the radar is how some Ukrainians are actually returning the favor.
Having arrived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as recently as a few months ago, a group of 7 Ukrainian refugees has signed up for a 2,000-mile road trip to Mississippi to help with tornado relief.
Tornadoes tore a path of destruction across rural Mississippi and Alabama on the night of Friday the 24th. The nonprofit American Service is just one of several aid organizations heading to help the victims.
They quickly organized a team of volunteers and headed down to North Fork, MI, expecting to arrive on Tuesday.
American Service’s Director of Operations, Sofiia Rudenko, is a Ukrainian who has only been in the country since Christmas, but after receiving help settling in from American Service, she quickly dedicated her time to help other new arrivals.
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“Here in America a lot of people helped me to establish here and we have this kind of culture that we want not only to take but also to give back and to help the others,” Rudenko told MPR News.
“I found a group of people, Ukrainian, that are not working today and willing to go immediately and now we’re packing and going. It’s so exciting, I hope we can do something great for this world.”
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American Service has so far helped 80 Ukrainians like Rudenko find temporary housing, jobs, and a bit of community in Minneapolis.
Their first trip down to Mississippi was going to bring exclusively water, and a second trip will follow based on whatever it was they discovered is in short supply after the first trip.
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I believe the town that was intended in the fourth paragraph is Rolling Fork, MS.