News & Impact

My name is Iryna, and I’m from Odesa, Ukraine.

I came to the United States in 2022 with my 9-year-old daughter, fleeing the war with nothing but hope—hope to find safety and the strength to rebuild our lives from scratch.

The first months were frightening and deeply isolating. I didn’t speak English, and every day felt like a mountain I didn’t know how to climb. That’s when I met Masha Kohn, our case manager at JFCS, and that changed everything.

Iryna S. with her mother and daughter.Masha’s empathy and calm reassurance gave me the courage to keep moving forward. My daughter, who was heartbroken over everything she had lost, was struggling to adjust.

Masha saw her pain and helped my daughter enroll in an incredible school—one that welcomed her with kindness and care. Seeing her smile again and blossoming in this new environment was a gift I will never forget.

With JFCS by our side, things slowly began to shift. We were even able to move into a new home—a fresh chapter that once felt out of reach. A place to finally exhale and begin again.

Later, I was able to bring my elderly mother to live with us. That came with many worries and logistical challenges, but everything was eased by the extraordinary care of Victoria Tyryshkin, a dementia specialist with JFCS’ Seniors At Home—a woman whose heart and dedication shine in everything she does. Knowing my mother is in such good hands gives me peace I never thought I’d feel again.

I’m also deeply grateful for the help of JFCS’ Job Search Coaching program, whose staff—including the wonderful Irina Klay—helped me not only build a resume and prepare for interviews but also rediscover belief in myself.

That same sense of reassurance came from the JFCS Legal Services team. Knowing that someone was carefully watching over our case gave us strength and peace of mind.

Our journey has not been easy. We’ve faced many storms. Yet through it all, JFCS was there with open hearts and steady hands. They helped us not just survive but begin to truly live again.

Now that life feels a bit more stable, I often find myself wondering how I might quietly, in my own way, become part of that same circle of care that once held me up and was a light during our darkest times.

What JFCS provides cannot be measured—they don’t just help. They uplift. They empower. They heal.

They will forever be part of our story.

With all my heart,

Iryna S.