Spring cleaning? Donate what you don’t need

East Kildonan

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/03/2024 (943 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If you’re like me, you plan to clean the garage and store room soon. That will make space for everything that will inevitably find its way into your possession this year so you can get rid of them again next year. If you have kids and grandkids, multiply the need to purge by some high number of your choosing.

When you enjoy that process, think of people coming from Ukraine, as the Ukrainian National Federation expects a surge over the next few weeks. That is because those Ukrainians hoping to come via the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program face an important deadline on March 31.

CUAET allows Ukrainians and their immediate family members to obtain a three-year visa with a work or study permit. While the deadline to apply was last July 15, the final day to obtain a work or study permit at a point of entry or to apply for one from within Canada is March 31. Those arriving after March 31 will lose some forms of settlement assistance, including funds to help them get started.

I spoke with someone helping a mother and daughter from Kharkiv, a hard-hit area of Ukraine. They want to settle in Winnipeg because they heard many Ukrainians are here. But they are scared, fearing they will be unable to adjust.

I helped another family get started a few weeks ago. Luckily, one adult daughter speaks good English and is excited about her prospects. Her boyfriend has less English but some good skills that should land him a manufacturing job somewhere. The mother, who ran a bank in Ukraine, speaks very little English and is prepared to start at the bottom. (The 11-year-old daughter, who has attended school in Ukraine, Italy, and Canada over three years, is shell-shocked.)

More folks are coming as the situation doesn’t improve in Ukraine. Some people hoping for an end to the fighting are now making other plans. Most times, it involves family separation, as men under 60 are mostly prohibited from leaving the country.

That creates some problematic situations, especially if those coming do not have a good command of English. Those who can perform more manual labour, such as roofing, have an easier time finding work, especially as spring and summer are coming. Women without such skills and who cannot speak English fluently have a much harder time finding employment. That places extra pressure on them.

The easiest way to help is to give Ukrainian newcomers the essential items everyone needs to make a home, such as dishes, cutlery, bed sheets, towels, and toys for the kids. If you’ve upgraded your couch or mattresses, consider providing them too.

Last weekend, some friends and I filled up two rented vans with these items we provide to families as they arrive. It’s hard work, but my new friends’ gratitude when they see strangers helping them is more than enough of a return.

There are Ukrainian newcomer groups on Facebook and pages for groups like the UNF. You can also post on free Facebook pages for Ukrainian families. I also post specific needs on my Facebook page.