Donations needed for Ukrainian refugees

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/06/2022 (351 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Welcome Centre at the Ukrainian National Federation, located at 935 Main Street, has been very busy receiving and distributing donations these past few months.

“Manitobans have opened their hearts, their wallets and their homes,” says Joanne Lewandosky, president of the Manitoba provincial council of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress.

On May 23, Winnipeg welcomed over 300 Ukrainian refugees (and their pets). They travelled from Warsaw on a flight chartered by the Government of Canada. With the help of the Manitoba provincial council of the UCC, they were assisted with obtaining essentials such as social insurance numbers, medical cards, housing, and a daily shuttle to the Welcome Centre at UNF to “shop till they drop,” as Lewandosky put it.

Lewandosky proudly said “Winnipeg was chosen as the first destination to receive Ukrainian refugees because Winnipeg has the most organized Ukrainian community in Canada.”

Generous Manitobans have been donating furniture, bedding, household supplies, clothing (and so much more), and these things are being distributed to newly arrived Ukrainian families at no cost. Lewandosky listed numerous businesses, organizations and cultural groups that came forward with different forms of donations, and added that “Manitoba is the most generous community.”

Many who arrived are single mothers and children. Fathers (and in some cases older brothers) have stayed behind to protect their country. They hope to be reunited after this conflict, and to become landed immigrants and make Canada their home.

If you would like to donate, the items most needed at this time are:

• cooking oil;

• canned meat;

• deodorant;

• toiletries;

• women’s hygiene products;

• men’s shaving cream;

• laundry detergent;

• kids’ cereals;

• baby items;

• toys;

• pillows;

• flour (smaller bags are easier to carry);

• oatmeal, buckwheat (Ukrainians love to cook with buckwheat)

I was told they have plenty of canned soups and shampoo at this time and that any monetary donations will be issued a tax receipt.

The other great need is volunteers. Lewandosky said “everyone working at the UNF is a volunteer. We currently need volunteers to man the store, drive shuttles and mentor new families.”

The UNF is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You may need to knock on the locked door but someone will answer. Please call 204-942-9348 if you require further information.

More information can also be found at: uccmanitoba.ca