Help a Ukrainian family start over, in Canada

Hi. 

My name is Greg.  My wife and I are trying to give back by helping a young Ukrainian family get settled. (Link to their profile at bottom)

As you are probably aware, president Putin launched a full scale attack on the people of Ukraine. This resulted in the displacement and suffering of many people. Mothers, Fathers, children, grandparents.

I am fortunate to be able to offer accomodations after arrival, and will be hosting them until they are able to get employment and their own apartment.

This is their story:

"

My name is Alina;

I was born in Crimea, Ukraine. I still rembmer the lovely summers, flowers, and the chilly winters. My parents lived there too, but as things go, they divorced, and I was raised by my mother. We moved to Lviv when I was 7. For a while it was ok, but I couldn't see my grandma after 2014 due to Putin's annexation of Crimea. She could not imagine giving up her home and life after all those years, and decided to stay there.

My husband Anton grew up in Poltava. His father left him when 5. He remembers him, but he has a hard time talking about it. That also did not make it easy for him and his family in their daily struggle.

I and Anton met at a canoeing competition, as we both share a passion for water sports, and as things go, love goes, we decided to start a family. Ukraine is beautiful and that’s where we belong. However, no matter how much you love your home, when there are missiles, artillery, snipers, and soldiers that don’t care who they shoot, what does one do? It was a nightmare come to life.

At the beginning of 2022 my husband Anton went abroad for work. . While he was away, a month later Putin launched his invasion on Ukrainie; myself and my daughter had to escape to avoid the possibility of unspeakable. Poland being our neighbor, and remembering what the Russian military is capable of, was able to help, and offer shelter to many Ukrainians. Nobody wants, or thinks of these things; I still don’t know how it all happened. But here we are. I was forced to leave my Mother, my Grandmother. All my belongings, my friends, my career, and everything in between. I was lucky to manage to pack a suitcase. How does one do that? How does anyone pack a life into a suitcase and leave everything you love and the familiar behind? My daughter, Anastasia, took this like any child. She was very confused, and scared. How does any mother explain a war to a child with a sweet, and innocent soul?

We are currently in Poland. My husband was lucky to connect with us, and join us. We are together; many families are not. I am happy, and thankful for that much. We were offered a chance to come to Canada through the CUAT program, and through social media, we were able to find a place to stay while we get our child to school, jobs, drivers licenses etc.. So now we wait for our future, and to start over. So that is our story. There are lots of stories. But this is mine.

Thank you!

Alina, Anton and Anastasia."

My goal is to host this family free of charge for the foreseeable future and assist them with finding employment, housing, and become independent. However they will need help getting the basics after their arrival. All funds raised will 100% go to them so they can best secure some sort of normalcy: jackets, clothes, school supplies, basic house cutlery, pots, shoes, towels, beds, etc. Funds will be deposited into their account after arriving in Canada.  They should be here end of 2022, or beginning of 2023 depending on the efficiency of the government passport office.

Any little bit will help. Thank you all in advance for any assistance you can provide, even if it's just sharing this link with others.

God bless and thank you all again.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1498120440512247/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT