Over the weekend, Hosting Ukrainians in Fort Saskatchewan (HUFS) helped put together a furniture drive for Ukrainians in need.
With help from the Ukranian Canadian Congress, HUFS was at the Our Lady of the Angels parking lot in downtown Fort Saskatchewan collecting furniture and other household items.
“Wonderful people came out to support not only with donated items but helping with getting the items to the newcomers’ new homes, and getting them settled into their new accommodations, and making them feel extremely welcome and supported here in Fort Saskatchewan,” said Carol Slukynski, who organized the drive with HUFS.
During the drive they received an overwhelming amount of support, filling their first 5-ton truck in just 45 minutes, while also directly helping out 5 separate families in the last 2 weeks.
“Collaborating is always a key. I’m working with the Philipino community and collaborating with the Indigenous community. I’m looking at ways we can streamline our resources.”
This drive came at a critical time as the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel ended on March 31, with 25 per cent of those who applied already making it to Canada.
“You see how such a small gesture of kindness has such an impact on a person’s life. When you give someone a hand up, it gives them a sense of hope and support in their future.”
This drive happened to coincide with Volunteer Appreciation Week, which runs until Saturday.
“When people came to give those donations and they actually saw the families collecting the items, it really impacted them,” added Slukynski. “Building awareness is also a really big part of this.”
You can discover more about HUFS and find ways to help out by visiting their Facebook page.
