A Ukrainian Refugee Sponsored by a Couple, Supported by a Community
May 30, 2023
In Hartsville, South Carolina, Lidia is invited to a dinner to honor Ukrainian refugees, and the community that has helped them. The dinner is hosted by community leader Curtis Lee and, in typical South Carolina fashion, it’s a low country boil. In the video, Lidia recalls her experience as an immigrant, and Polina Frishko talks about her hopes for the future. Polina is a recent Ukrainian refugee working to make a life for herself and her son, Damir, in Hartsville.
Lidia's Low Country Boil in South Carolina
Lidia meets Polina's friend Enna Elias, who has been in the United states for a lot longer. The three of them make borscht together, a traditional Ukrainian dish.
Making Borscht, Ukrainian Style
Polina and her son have been living in Hartsville for several months. They fled Kyiv during the early fighting and spent 12 days underground before escaping to Poland. They arrived in the U.S. by way of 'Uniting For Ukraine', a federal program initiated by the Biden Administration. Kathy and Dennis McGowan of Hartsville have served as the Frishko’s sponsors. Lidia meets Kathy and Dennis McGowan, Polina’s sponsors and they talk about what made them raise their hands to help. She visits their lakehouse, where they have hosted three Ukrainian refugee families (and counting).
View photos of Lidia's visit with Polina Frishko
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