Finding Warmth in Winter: A Picnic of Connection and New Beginnings

— Author: Anastasiia Krylova (UNSP Community Liaison & Case Manager)

On January 11th, for the first time, a group of Ukrainian women came together for a warm and heartfelt picnic at Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Orange County to celebrate winter holidays and new year start. 

Surrounded by towering redwoods and winter sunshine, the gathering became much more than a casual meet-up—it was a space for connection, reflection, and shared strength.

Human Migration Institute’s Ukrainian case managers created a welcoming environment where women could openly share their stories: where they came from, what journeys brought them to California, and how they are building new lives here. Despite different backgrounds and paths, the conversations revealed just how much the women had in common as Ukrainian newcomers navigating a new country together.

As is tradition, food played a central role in bringing everyone closer. Guests arrived with homemade treats and snacks for tea, while the organizers prepared a beautiful spread of Ukrainian candies and traditional cakes, filling the picnic table with familiar flavors and a sense of home. Warm drinks, laughter, and heartfelt conversations flowed easily, even on a cool January day.

After tea, the group set off to explore the park together. Carbon Canyon is especially meaningful—it’s the only place in Orange County with real redwood trees, and walking among them felt symbolic: grounded, resilient, and quietly powerful, much like the women themselves. The hike offered time for fresh air, movement, and continued conversations beneath the tall trees.

This picnic was a reminder that community can be built anywhere—around a picnic table, over shared memories, or on a forest trail. For these Ukrainian women, the day offered comfort, connection, and the reassurance that they are not alone as they begin this new chapter in California.