Mt. Pleasant community asked to sponsor Ukrainian refugees

MT. PLEASANT — Ukrainian refugee sponsor volunteer with the World Relief organization Bob Bartles met with a small group at Mt. Pleasant First Presbyterian Church Wednesday evening to discuss ways this community could support Ukrainian refugees.

As the war rages on in Ukraine, many Ukrainians seek assistance through the Uniting with Ukraine processed announced by President Joe Biden last April.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, this streamlined process provides Ukrainian citizens fleeing Russia’s war opportunities to come to the United States.

“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,” Homeland Security outlines. “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.

Bartles and two Ukrainian refugees elaborated on their sponsorship experiences.

“Many people and children die in our country,” One of the refugees, Kateryna Deyashkina from Drohobych, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine said. “I don't know how Putin is sleeping well and really Russian people sleeping well.”

According to Deyashkina, coming to America was like landing on a completely different planet.

Considering the special refugee status only allots two years for Ukrainians fleeing the war, Anne Walton asked Deyashkina if she desires to make a more permanent home in this country.

“I want to help my Ukrainian people,” Deyashkina responded. “I want something new here and I don't know if I want to stay here, or if I want to go to my country, but I want to help and I want my daughter will be in a safe place.”

“Ukraine, it's not a safe place,” Deyashkina said. “With the bombs, you don't know if you when you go to sleep and in the morning you will get up.”

Deyashkina still has family in Ukraine which she speaks to daily. She hopes her some of them will join her in Southeast Iowa in the near future.

“My sister want to come, and we find a sponsor, but we just wait for answer from the government,” she said.

Bartles added that Deyashkina sister is just waiting for the government to approve her sponsorship.

Once the sponsorship is approved, she will receive paperwork saying she can come to America and she will then have 90 days to book a flight and arrive.

Pedro Klynchuk from Ternopil, a major western city in Ukraine, just arrived as a refugee only two days before meeting with this group at the Presbyterian church.

Much like Deyashkina, Klynchuk wishes to establish himself in this country and work to earn a living but needs assistance in navigating how to make that possible.

Deyashkina practiced as an oncology nurse for 20 years in Ukraine before coming to America and is currently seeking next steps to continue her profession.

Klynchuk drove large trucks in Europe before arriving in America, and anticipates that he will continue to do that same here once he has obtained his certifications.

Deyashkina’s husband also drives trucks, and in an effort to begin working as soon as possible, he went out of state to take training for his CDL a month sooner than classes were offered at Southeastern Community College.

While Bartles says he has seen an outpouring of support in the Fairfield and Burlington communities for these individuals, he has also seen a deep desire from the Ukrainians to be self-sufficient.

“The people want to be independent, though, self reliant,” he said.

“Thank you,” Deyashkina said. “Thank you that you have so kind and friendly people. We don't expect this. We think we will be alone maybe, but here we know that you are great people and you help Ukraine and I want to say thank you.”

According to Bartles, “The Ukrainian applicants will need to undergo rigorous security vetting and checks, including biographic and biometric screening, and complete vaccinations and other public health requirements, including receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, to be eligible.”

“Sponsors would need to pass security background checks of their own as well as declare financial support,” Bartles explained.

Bartles states there is no fee for filing the paperwork to support a beneficiary, however, part of the application process does require sponsors to sign a Declaration of Financial Support.

“[This] assures the U.S. government that, if needed, you will financially support the beneficiaries you seek to sponsor for the duration of their parole,” he said.

According to Bartles, the responsibilities of sponsors will include creating support systems that help refugees thrive.

Sponsors will help beneficiaries apply for critical documents for life in the United States including Social Security cars, driver’s licenses, and state identification.

They also will walk alongside these refugees to establish bank accounts, find housing, transportation, and employment.

Bartles expressed confidence in the Mt. Pleasant community to provide support for Ukrainian refugees.

“If Mount Pleasant is as I perceive it to be, and almost certainly it is, maybe. Maybe within this group, you all did three families, so you created it's not just one family,” he said.

“I know people in Mt. Pleasant who desperately need workers,” Bartles said. “They want their community to grow. Iowa west lane closing is causing a part of the community to reel.”

“This improves the community. Good people, kids in school, skilled labor. It's good,” he said.

According to Bartles, there is no limit to the number of individuals that a person or group can sponsor, but administration officials will evaluate the means of individuals to provide this support.

For more information about sponsoring a family Bartles suggests either visiting www.welcome.us or contacting him directly by email at bobrlbartles@gmail.com

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com