The Mayor of Englewood Cliffs says that he wants to help Ukrainian families in need.
The United Nations estimates that more than 4 million people have fled Ukraine – most of them women, children and the elderly. The United States is preparing to take in 100,000 refugees.
Englewood Mayor Mario Kranjac says that he and his residents plan to assist these Ukrainian families as soon as they land on American soil.
The town only has 5,000 people. It is generally known as a wealthy suburb along the Hudson River. It is also known as the home to a handful of major corporations, including LG.
“There’s no politics. It’s just pure goodness,” says Kranjac. “We can actually try and help the people who are suffering.”
Kranjac’s parents were immigrants from Croatia and the former Yugoslavia. He says that he would like to take in some Ukrainian families and place them at the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace complex.
"I've been talking with them about perhaps making some of that very empty building available. It's freshly renovated and they've been great to speak and work with,” the mayor says.
Some of the refugees coming into the U.S. could come from cities like Borodianka, where the search continued Wednesday for dead civilians in the rubble of buildings bombarded by Russian troops.
Many have fled to other countries. Poland has taken in over 2 million refugees. Others have gone to Hungary or Romania. Others are staying put in western cities within Ukraine, not wanting to get too far from their husbands and fathers who must stay behind to fight.
It is unclear when Ukrainian refugees could arrive in Englewood Cliffs. The borough is still waiting to hear from the State Department.
The mayor says that it may be a month or two before any arrive.