Church Prepared To Welcome Ukrainian Refugees In Wake Of Crisis
ORANGEVALE (CBS13) — Pastor Vadim Dashkevich takes yet another call for help, a half-a-world away. CBS13 listened in as he talked with a fellow pastor in Ukraine, rushing women and children out of the warzone.
"They moved out without nothing, even I'm sorry, no socks, no toothbrush, nothing," says Vadym Dashkevych, Senior Pastor Spring of Life Ukrainian Baptist Church.
Vadim is better known as "Pastor Dash" at Spring of Life Ukrainian Baptist Church, where they've been holding prayer services every night since Russian troops invaded and the attacks started.
"It's really hard for us. Emotionally, it puts you down," says Dashkevich.
"We didn't sleep all night because it's just news news news, you know?" says Zoya Kozyk, a church member. "It's [a] very hard time for Ukraine and for us because we're Ukrainian, you know? We live in America for 17 years but we grew up in Ukraine, childhood, hometown."
Zoya and Mykola Koyzk can't turn away from the news, worried about family and friends in their home country. Like many others, they gather at church for support.
"To pray for peace for Ukraine, yeah. And help, for help. The people, it's a hard time, a hard time for them," says Zoya.
The church is now preparing to open it's doors to refugees.
"In the next few weeks, we're likely going to see a lot of immigrants at the church, refugees that are going to escape from Ukraine," Dashkevich told CBS13.
CBS News just learned from sources that the Biden administration is considering protecting certain Ukrainians already living in the U.S. from deportation.
"I know for sure a lot of people want to come to the United States. Because this country did a lot for immigrants, especially for us Ukrainians," says Dashkevich.
Considering the large Slavic population in Greater Sacramento, Dashkevich expects an influx of refugees.
"This region is really open for the refugees, for the immigrants and California was always helping the immigrants," said Dashkevich.
Dashkevich says Ukrainian men aren't allowed to leave the country during war as they're expected to stay and fight. Many are rushing their wives and children to Poland or other borders for safety and then going back to the war zone. Dashkevich says while refugees haven't been cleared to enter the U.S. yet, he anticipates a new wave of Ukrainian immigrants to California is right around the corner.
