Stepping up: Canadians sending aid to Ukraine

Help is on the way for the people of Ukraine.

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation has partnered with an international aid agency in Ukraine. That’s where Danylo Puderak of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress says donations to Ukraine — like those being made during the Rawlco Radio Saskatchewan Day of Caring for Ukraine — are being sent.

“They’re able to acquire the supplies needed to go to those warehouses and then distribute them directly to Ukrainians,” Puderak said.

That foundation has a relationship with another aid agency offering help to Ukrainian refugees who have fled the country to places like Moldova and Romania.

About one million refugees have now fled Ukraine. Puderak said that number is comparable to the population of Saskatchewan.

On the Rawlco Radio Saskatchewan Day of Caring for Ukraine, we’re learning how the money people donate will help those on the ground in Ukraine.

“You have been able to purchase food for 1,500 civilians and 700 soldiers and also we have purchased 10,000 medical kits for the next three months,” said Victor Hetmanczuk, the chair of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.

“We also have a program in Western Ukraine, in Lviv. We have ordered 5,000 food baskets. These food baskets are good for one person for one month. And finally, we have a deal to help the refuges coming over the western border to Moldova.

“Eventually we are going to be moving bulk food out of Poland into where it is needed. The Ukrainian Scouting organization has volunteered to drive the food all over wherever it is needed.”

Puderak says it is a challenge to get necessary resources like food and medical supplies to the people who need them. Contributing to that problem is that electrical stations in cities like Mariupol are being targeted.

“It’s under heavy bombardment now and it’s basically encircled,” Puderak said, adding the city is close to the front lines of the conflict.

He says cities are saying they have no electricity and are running out of water.

“They’re relying on whatever food that they have stored up in preparation for this,” Puderak said. “It’s an extremely difficult situation.”

Volunteers in many areas of the city are helping address needs for food and medical aid.

“They’re getting it as best they can out to the people that need it,” Puderak said.

Click here to donate.

Locals collecting for Ukrainian army, citizens

A Ukrainian group in Saskatoon is doing all it can to make life more bearable for those fighting for their lives in Ukraine.

Stream of Hopes is an organization that helps children in Ukraine who are sick, abandoned or orphaned or who live in poverty.

After the war began, the organization chose to expand its horizons and help out those who are in the Ukrainian army or who have no possible way to escape.

Olesya Hursky, the co-founder and secretary for Stream of Hopes, says it has been an emotional period seeing all of the donations pouring in by random citizens in Saskatoon.

“There’s been an amazing outpour of support from non-Ukrainians and Ukrainians alike, whether it’s as simple as a text message,” Hursky said. “There’s some tears. There’s some people that come in and they also tear up because they are third-, fourth-, fifth-, sixth-generation Ukrainian.

“(There also have been) some people who are not Ukrainians but they just understand the severity of the situation and just the huge crisis it’s created.”

Since the war started, Hursky says multiple businesses have also come forward with proceeds or to offer goods and services for their warehouse where everything is being stored.

“We (also) have Ukrainian churches willing to partner up with us,” Hursky said. “It has been a lot of different places, people and organizations (and) sometimes it’s just extremely overwhelming because it’s only been six days since the war started.”

Certain items from Saskatoon get sent to Toronto, and then across the Atlantic Ocean into Poland. From there, they’re taken into Ukraine to designated areas and will specifically assist those who need them.

“What we’re trying to help is people who are stuck in Ukraine who can’t get out and guys that are fighting because there will be no refugees if we can’t stop the army,” Hursky said.

The humanitarian aid has had to get creative with items. Hursky explains there are so many important items needed to survive right now.

“(We’re looking for) simple things like warm socks, thermal underwear, sleeping bags, first aid kits and bandages,” she said.

Non-perishable food items will also go a long way, considering it is extremely difficult to get access to food.

“There’s not a lot of food left in the stores, and whatever is left is extremely limited so if we can help them get that going, it will make a big difference,” Hursky said.

Regina deli helping out

A Ukrainian-owned business in Regina is pitching in to help out.

Daniyil Lytvynenko is the manager of Euro Deli Kiev. His business is donating clothes, food and money.

It’s particularly personal for Lytvynenko, since his father, grandmother and extended family still live in Ukraine.

One thing that’s really struck a chord with him is how much people in Canada have chipped in to help.

“It’s incredible to see how many people have the support and the courage to stand up and say ,’You know what? This is wrong. We’ll do everything we can. We’ll give everything we have to help,’ ” Lytvynenko said.

He spoke to why he thinks it’s so important to pitch in.

“I want people to understand that people in Ukraine never asked for the war. They never (expected) the war to be in their cities. Even the smallest amount that you can possibly imagine, that groups up together (and) will make a big difference for people there,” he said.

“Together, we have (the) ability to stand for peace and everything that Canada believes in.”