A grandmother’s past shapes another family’s future
To protect their identities, the Ukrainian newcomers mentioned in this story requested to be referenced only by their first names and without images.
When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, it hit close to home for Chris Kendig—his grandparents emigrated from Ukraine to the United States in the 1950s and Ukrainian culture remained a big part of his life.
Eager to help, Chris and his wife Sindhoo donated to hospitals, food relief programs, and even in support of frontline soldiers. Then they discovered the Uniting for Ukraine humanitarian parole sponsorship program, recognizing an opportunity to make a more profound impact.
Being Ukrainian, seeing what happened with Russia invading, realizing the human toll of that, I wanted to try and be involved and try and do something positive.
Sponsorship offered Chris the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the lives of a Ukrainian family, and he began taking action. In early January 2024 after attending an online information session hosted by Welcome.US, Chris and Sindhoo created a profile on Welcome Connect. It was through Welcome Connect that they met Uliana.
Uliana met her husband Andrejs in Ukraine in 2017, and nearly two years later, they welcomed their daughter Linnea into the world. Uliana said life before the war was “wonderful” as the couple raised Linnea in Dnipro and maintained close relationships with their family.
After the Russian invasion, the young couple frantically searched for ways to leave the country. Uliana, leaving the rest of her family behind, fled to Poland with her daughter, and Andrejs soon followed. While in Poland, they experienced the dangers of living in such close proximity to Russia, and searched for safer locations for their family.
When Uliana discovered Welcome Connect and began messaging Chris, she felt a sense of trust knowing that his grandmother is Ukrainian.
As a father of young children, Chris also felt a bond with Uliana and Andrejs as parents.
I think part of what drove the connection and wanting to move forward is just being a parent of young children. Just realizing how hard that is when you have a calm, regular situation. Then trying to think about dealing with that in the wake of having to leave your home, go to another country.
From the start of the sponsorship journey, Chris was impressed by Uliana’s organization and diligence. Only a few short weeks after Chris applied to sponsor the family, they received approval and travel authorizations. Chris and Sindhoo’s extended family mobilized to help the couple in their journey to sponsorship, raising $20,000 for the Ukrainian family.
Chris’s grandmother in particular was moved to witness their act of compassion for fellow Ukrainians. Having lived in Ukraine during World War II, she ended up in a German refugee camp through displacement.
“It was very powerful for her to be able to, I think, see her grandson help Ukrainians in another generation who are going through a very difficult situation,” Chris said.
Uliana, Andrejs, and Linnea arrived in Colorado at the end of May 2024. The family stayed with Chris, Sindhoo, and their children for about a week before moving into a nearby apartment of their own.
Despite the heartache of leaving behind their country, family, and friends, they expressed thanks to Chris for the support, time, and money he has offered them, and they are grateful to be able to provide safety and stability for their daughter and her future.
Ukrainian newcomers like Uliana, Andrejs, and Linnea, who arrived in the U.S. mere months ago, now face uncertainty as the government ended humanitarian parole programs like Uniting for Ukraine. It's not too late to share your support for private sponsorship pathways and the newcomers who find safety through them. Contact your federal representatives today.
