How do Ukrainian pensioners live in Florida

Many older people from Ukraine, like most Americans, prefer to retire to Florida. As stated in the report VOA, there are low taxes, a measured lifestyle and summer all year round.

Photo: Voice of America frame video

The Ukrainian diaspora chose North Port as its place to live in the 70s. Since the first 30 migrants, the diaspora has grown to 5 thousands of people. But, despite the constant rest, the Ukrainians do not forget about their homeland and help in every way.

“Then they founded a center here and there were 30 of them, and then people began to come more and more. Now approximately 5 thousand Ukrainians live here, which is 10% of the total population of North Port,” recalls Daria Tomashoska, an activist in the Ukrainian community in North Port.

Over time, many Ukrainian organizations appeared in the North Port and churches of various denominations were built. So, now the Orthodox, Greek Catholic and Baptist churches are operating in North Port. Despite the fact that Ukrainians pray in different churches - they help their homeland together.

The activists of the Union of Ukrainian Women of America, founded in 1925, take an especially active part in the life of their homeland.

“We were the first organization that informed the world about the Holodomor. We worked, sent packages, wrote letters to President Roosevelt to explain what was happening in Ukraine,” said Lida Bilous, a representative of the Union of Ukrainian Women of America.

Another center, the Ukrainian-American Club, focused its efforts on the cultural education of Americans.

“We tell Americans about our history and culture,” said American citizen Lida Boyko, a representative of the Ukrainian-American club.

There is also a Shevchenko Ukrainian language community in North Port, founded in 1990. The community promotes the language, collaborates with universities.

“After Chernobyl, we collected a lot of medicines and vitamins for the children of Chernobyl,” recalls Vera Bodnaruk, a representative of the Shevchenko Ukrainian Language Society.

But activists of the Ukrainian diaspora helped their homeland not only in the past. Now they are actively collecting money and humanitarian aid for the Ukrainian military in the ATO area.

“Last year we sent all the necessary clothing for 50 military personnel. Underwear, mittens...Everything you need for winter and summer,” said Daria Tomashoska.

And Lida Bilous went to Dnepropetrovsk and communicated with the military there.

“I myself went to Dnepropetrovsk, now it is the city of Dnepro. We carried money to hospitals throughout the military, who received various injuries during the war, ”she said.

Representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora of North Port gather for all the iconic Ukrainian holidays together. On Fridays, they have a tradition when they sell cooked dumplings, sauerkraut, cabbage rolls, borsch, blood sausage and pies with their own hands, and send the money to help Ukraine.

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