Westford residents fundraise to support Ukrainian refugees

WESTFORD — As over 8 million refugees have fled Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February, a number of Westford residents hope to support one family reallocate to the United States.

Mycola and Yana Murzaieva, along with their two children Nikol and Erik hope to relocate from Kyiv to the Merrimack Valley in the coming weeks.

Before the conflict, Mycola worked in construction while his wife, Yana, worked in medical sales.

Residents support relocation efforts

According to resident and Board of Health chair Stephanie Granger, the family currently shelters in their basement without reliable electricity or heat.

Granger, along with Alicia and Brian Wahlquist and Elizabeth Stone, began fundraising for housing, food and other necessities for the family once they arrive in the United States.

“It’s a chance for us to have an impact on a family,” Granger told WestfordCAT. “We’ve see the pain [they are dealing with].”

WelcomeNST, a non-profit that supports refugees is sponsoring the fundraiser. Granger’s team, Team Open Arms, is seeking $35,000 in funding to support the family. Funding will be used to offset rent and other living expenses. The group has raised $3,375 at the time of reporting.

“The faster we can get things going, the faster they can come,” she said.

Granger noted that the family will receive a two year visa for work and residency. She expected the family to arrive no later than late January.

“We want the community to join with is,” she said.