08/29/2026
When we came to Wisconsin, almost everything felt new and unfamiliar. But over time, as we began meeting people here, we realized how special this place truly is.
In the Chippewa Valley — in Eau Claire and Altoona — there are incredibly kind, caring, and welcoming people. During our life here, we have met so many people willing to support us, help us, or simply be there, and we truly feel blessed to be part of this community. ❤️
Altoona has become especially close to our hearts. It is where Borsch House found its home.
It is also the community where our dear family friend, Katie Groves, lives.
When we first arrived, Katie, an English teacher, volunteered to help us with English. That simple act of kindness grew into a genuine friendship between our families.
Katie has always shown sincere interest in Ukrainian culture and supports what we share through Borsch House. From time to time, she helps us simply because she wants to support our culture and what we are creating here. At the same time, through Katie and her family, we continue learning more about American culture. ❤️
This season, Katie’s daughter, Brooke, also became part of our Borsch House team.
Today was Brooke’s last day with us, and we want to thank her for everything she brought to our team.
Brooke is responsible, punctual, hardworking, organized, and kind. She learned everything so quickly, and even with our still-imperfect English, sometimes it felt like she understood us without words. 😊 We could always count on her.
Brooke, thank you for this season. We wish you a wonderful future, great opportunities, and people who will always appreciate your kindness and strong work ethic. ❤️
And a special thank you to the Groves family for your friendship and support. Connections like this are one of the reasons we appreciate our Chippewa Valley community so much.🤍🫂🤝🤝🤝
