Philip Brandford, 81, of Cooper City, felt compelled to act when he watched the news of the Ukrainian crisis.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, Iryna Timoshenko escaped her homeland with her three children, leaving her husband behind.
Timoshenko decided to make Miami her temporary home. A year ago, she had visited St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Cooper City, and she recently returned asking for help.
There she was connected with Brandford, who decided to open the doors of his home and his heart to the family.