Meet Alexander and Katrina who arrived with their two young children, Artem and Sophie earlier this year.  Thanks to the help of JFS their kids were able to enjoy summer camps at the JCC and are now both attending Vancouver Talmud Torah.  The additional financial help from JFS, the grocery deliveries and donations of household essentials and furnishings the family received from community members helped them settle into their temporary two-bedroom suite in Kerrisdale. 

Leaving their elderly parents behind and starting from the ground up is not easy. They will need to find a decent job that will provide them with an income where they can afford to live in Vancouver, one of the country’s most expensive places to live.  When probed, Alexander said, “the two things that are keeping me strong are the wonderful suite me and my family are in and the school the children are attending.”  He is optimistic for his children’s future.  He appreciates the village that is surrounding him and his family helping them settle in this new country. 

The Zubris Family is extremely grateful for the help that they have received from JFS, Belmont Properties and the Jewish Federation. 

If you want to learn how you can help other Ukrainian families, please contact Tanya Finkelshtein, JFS Settlement Worker by calling 604-257-5151.