Edmontonians gather 10,000 kg of emergency supplies to send to Ukraine

In less than a week, members of Edmonton's Ukrainian community have gathered more than 10,000 kilograms of emergency supplies to help their homeland. 

From morning until night, volunteers have been sorting, packing and weighing boxes full of canned food, baby food, gloves, survival kits, medical supplies and other items in the basement of the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada's Edmonton hall, northeast of downtown.

Ruslana Yurystovska, a dental assistant taking time off work to co-ordinate the aid effort, posted a call for donations on Facebook on Sunday. 

Moved by pictures of children sleeping in subway stations, she thought about her own children and the supplies they would need to keep warm.

Born and raised in Ukraine, Yurystovska came to Canada 15 years ago. Her parents, sister and friends still live there. She has hardly slept this week, fearing for their safety as Russia's invasion of the country continues.

Ukrainians in Alberta preparing massive shipment of emergency supplies

3 years ago

Duration 1:38

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, members of Edmonton's Ukrainian community are gathering supplies to help their homeland.

Yurystovska estimates 500 to 1,000 people have contributed to the campaign, including people from Red Deer, Calgary and other community organizations in Edmonton.

"We are now a big family," she told CBC News on Wednesday. "We all support Ukraine."

Mykola Vorotylenko, vice-president of the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada's Edmonton branch, said he helped organize aid for Ukraine in 2014.

"Unfortunately, I need to help and teach the young generation how to do it again," he said.

Yurystovska said the group is still accepting donations, prioritizing medical supplies and baby formula, but their most urgent need is help with delivery.

Solomiya Cherkavska, a teacher who came to Canada four years ago and has many family members and friends in Ukraine, has been trying to convince the provincial and federal governments to help the group secure cargo space for shipments.

She hopes the Canadian military will help deliver their supplies.

"We need a strong connection with the government and we need reliable transportation," she said.

According to the 2016 census, Edmonton had the biggest Ukrainian population in Canada with 159,945 residents.

Alina Ivaniv, who moved to Canada from Ukraine nearly eight years ago and works as a kitchen helper at Yo Baba Ukrainian Foods, worries about her brother, aunt and other family members in Ukraine.

"We are crying and so sorry — we feel so bad for them — and it feels like we can't help," she said. 

Ivaniv and her mother delivered medication and other items to the hall and to the Orbit Ukrainian Store, a business organizing packages for Ukrainians. On Saturday, they visited a military supply store to buy bandages and found the shelves nearly empty.

Meanwhile, her employer, Kim Ratsoy, is donating 100 per cent of borscht proceeds to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. 

Ratsoy said borscht sales have surged this week, with schools calling to inquire about group orders and suppliers donating vegetables. About $1,500 has been raised so far.