The community of Port Stanley is coming together in support of a local fundraiser aimed at helping resettle a Ukrainian family of four hoping to seek refuge in Canada.
Backed by support from the local community, organizer Ana Smith says the fundraiser will have something for everyone.
Not only is Smith spearheading the fundraiser, she and her husband have stepped up and will provide housing for the family for a year.
She notes that when the tragic situation in Ukraine continued to escalate, Smith and her husband joined the Facebook group “Ukraine Help Middlesex”, where they eventually made contact with a family from Kyiv who were hoping to seek refuge in Canada.
Smith adds that stepping up to help just seemed like the right thing to do.
With the family planning to fly to Canada from Europe as soon as Visa’s allow, Smith notes that funds for resettling can be quite high.
Items needed would include plane tickets, regular transportation upon arrival, consular, translation and application fees, food and hygiene products, school and office supplies, telephone service, climate appropriate clothing, rental deposit, furniture, bedding and kitchen items for transition into a permanent independent living situation.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family, with physical items being accepted at the fundraiser notes Smith.
She adds that the family may even be here in time to attend the event.
The fundraiser will take place on Saturday, June 4th from noon to 4 p.m. at 547 West Edith Cavell, Port Stanley.
A link to the GoFundMe, with more details on the family can be found here.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
