Utah family at Ukraine border rescuing refugees

FARMINGTON, Utah — A South Jordan family is on the Ukraine-Poland border helping refugee families get to safety. Over the last two weeks, Bonnie and Brett Hilton have helped from 18 to 25 families.

“We came because we felt a strong connection to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” said the Hiltons.

That strong connection started nearly 20 years ago, when the Hilton family decided to grow their own family by adopting two little girls from Ukraine. Fast forward, now they’re co-founders of Deliver, a Utah-based nonprofit organization with a mission to rescue children at risk.

Much of their time spent in Ukraine and Poland has been on the roads and at the train station, where they are helping refugees get to where they need to go. They say almost always, the refugees they’ve seen have been women and children, and it’s not uncommon to see trains packed full.

“Some of them have been on the road anywhere from two days to two weeks,” said Brett and Bonnie Hilton.

Their son, Isaac, is here in Utah. He looks up to his parents and their service.

“I am so, so proud. I mean, Brett and Bonnie, they are truly rockstars. I just adore them as much as a son can,” Isaac Hilton said.

Bonnie and Brett Hilton say much of their work is thanks to the support of friends and family members back home.  On Thursday, they plan to begin their journey back to Utah.

“It’s been so amazing to meet these people. They are resilient. They are strong. They are good, and they’re doing the very best that they can. It’s been awesome to watch them and be part of their lives for a moment or two,” Bonnie and Brett Hilton said.

Before leaving Ukraine, they will help train another family from St. George, who will then take their spot to continue assisting refugee families.