‘I just had to do something’

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This article was published 30/05/2022 (1556 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg agri-food executive and one of his senior traders are responding to the devastating Russian invasion of Ukraine, bringing 22 Ukrainian women and children to Manitoba, with more on the way.

“I just had to do something, I couldn’t just sit here,” said Andrew Paterson, 60, president and chief executive officer of Paterson GlobalFoods, an international agri-food conglomerate based in Winnipeg.

Paterson first considered donating to an international aid organization to help people fleeing the fighting, but turned his attention to making a direct impact, instead.

That’s when he turned to Tamara Khoma, a senior trader of special crops at the company and one of many of Ukrainian descent who work for Paterson GlobalFoods.

Together, they created the Airlift program. With assistance from Khoma’s church (Sts. Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral), the two have brought eight Ukrainian women and 14 children to Manitoba since mid-March.

“She’s the leader, I’m just the banker,” Paterson said of Khoma, 49, who came to Canada from Ukraine 20 years ago.

“My heart is divided between Canada and Ukraine,” Khoma said, noting she has family and friends in that country.

Through the program, they decided to focus on bringing the wives and children of Ukraine soldiers to Manitoba. For them, it is a way to support troops fighting the Russian invasion.

“They feel more at peace and calmer if they know their families are safe,” Khoma said, adding, “it does a lot for their morale.”

Airline tickets for the women and children are paid for by the Settler Foundation, a private fund operated by Paterson and his family. To date, the foundation has provided about $50,000 in reimbursements for the tickets.

Reimbursement is provided through Sts. Vladimir and Olga, which is actively involved in assisting with the program.

“When Tamara approached us to ask us to help, we said we wanted to do whatever we could to help people in Ukraine,” said Rev. Ihor Shved. “I told her, ‘Whatever we can do, we are ready to do it.’”

In addition to using funds from Settler Foundation to pay for airline tickets, the church also helps with administration and bookkeeping for the program and screens prospective newcomers.

“It’s just a simple questionnaire to ask them about their needs, if they have any support networks here,” said Shved, who came to Canada four years ago from Ukraine.

“The goal is to understand if they are really in need and if we can help them.”

The church also helps the refugees find housing, set up a household, find a job and other things such as food, bedding, blankets, baby and school supplies and furniture.

“We welcome donations of items,” Shved said, noting people can go to the church’s website for contact and other information.

In July, the church will hold a one-week day camp for the newly-arrived children — a way to let them have some fun, take their minds off the war and give their mothers a chance to look for work, Shved said.

As for Paterson and Khoma, they intend to keep going as long as there is a need.

“It feels good to make a difference,” said Khoma, adding through the airlift program she can “give back out of appreciation for what Canada has given me.”

Paterson feels the same way. “If situation reversed, I hope someone would help us,” he said, noting he was raised Presbyterian and was taught to “give to those who are in need.”

“It’s amazing what a difference the program is making those who have come,” said Khoma. “They keep expressing appreciation. They can’t believe someone they don’t know is paying for them to escape the war.”

As for what will happen to the mothers and children when the war finally ends, Khoma said she doesn’t know.

“It’s hard for them to make plans for the future now while worried about the safety of their husbands.”

faith@freepress.mb.ca

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