Livingston Woman Raises Funds For 2 Cousins And Their 6 Kids Fleeing Ukraine

LIVINGSTON, NJ — As the conflict caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues into its fourth month, local residents are trying to raise money for refugees.

The matter was personal recently for Julie D'Angelo, who had to help her eight cousins after they evacuated Ukraine.

"I am fundraising to help my cousins, Tetiana and Mariana, and their collective six kids - Davyd (8 years old), Marko (6 years old), Danylo (6 years old), Luka (5 years old), Anna (4 years old), and Maksym (1 year old)," she wrote.

Her local community helped out via her GoFundMe campaign, Help Ukrainian Refugees.

"With the current events in Ukraine, it breaks my heart that it is having such a direct
and catastrophic impact on my family," she wrote. "My cousins and their small children fled the war in Ukraine to Poland to protect their lives."

She added, "They quickly packed up their children into one car, with the clothes on their back and little else, and headed toward the Hungarian border. They crossed the Hungarian border on Sunday, February 26, searching for shelter and food. After resting one night, they began the long journey toward Poland, arriving Tuesday, March 1.

"Mariana was granted a visitor visa to the US, but Tetiana is still waiting on an answer from the UK on whether they can seek shelter there (after her family was rejected a visa to the US)."

Ultimately, D'Angelo was able to raise over $12,765, more than twice her $5,000 goal.

D'Angelo said the money would go to food, supplies, and educational activities for the cousins.

The fundraiser is here: https://gf.me/v/c/gfm/a7658d-help-ukrainian-refugees