Hamilton approves $50K grant to help local charity with shipments of aid to Ukraine

The City of Hamilton on Wednesday approved a grant of up to $50,000 to a local charity, to assist with air and ground transportation costs of cargo shipments of humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Stefan Sobolewski, director of Taras Bulba Ukraine Support 2022, wrote to Mayor Fred Eisenberger last week requesting financial support for four upcoming humanitarian aid charters and ground transportation.

Sobolewski says the charter flights with medical supplies, hygiene products, non-perishable food items and military non-lethal gear will take place between late April and June.

Eisenberger moved a motion for the financial relief and councillors voted 11-0 in favour.

"I think this is one thing that we can do to help offset some costs," Eisenberger said.

"The amount of money that we're providing here would allow for four shipments … [and] they'll have to demonstrate that the shipment actually occurred and receipts need to be provided and then restitution will be provided as well. 

"I think this is one small effort that we could make beyond what we're going to do as a community in terms of welcoming those that are escaping the tragic circumstances of Ukraine or looking for a safe haven," he added.

The mayor says he expects that Hamilton will be one of the locations that will be welcoming Ukrainians to come and stay safely in Canada for a period of time, or forever, whatever their choice might be at that moment in time.

"I know [the grant] is very much appreciated by Ukrainian folks in Hamilton, but also their family and friends that are struggling in Ukraine right now," Eisenberger said.

Taras Bulba Ukraine Support 2022 has been coordinating large donations of critically needed goods, which require air and ground transport to Ukraine. The aid is categorized as follows:

• Medical: catheters, gauzes, first-aid kits, saline, tourniquets, Ibuprofen 400ml, hospital gowns, syringes.

• Hygiene: soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, disinfectant wipes diapers, feminine hygiene products.

• Non-perishable food items: canned food, dry food, baby formula.

• Military non-lethal: boots, tactical gloves, helmets, knee/elbow pads, socks, underwear, carrier vests.

Sobolewski previously told CBC Hamilton he got the idea for the shipments after his employment at Cargojet.

"It was the calling of my heart to help out my fellow Ukrainian people in this very difficult time they are living through. I have Ukrainian roots and this is the least that I can do here to help," he said earlier this month.

Coun. Jason Farr says he's convinced the "modest" $50,000 effort speaks for a large majority of Hamilton citizens who are also "watching in horror, like ourselves, each and every night," what has been happening in Ukraine since the Russian invasion.

"We've done these kinds of things in the past, and it really does speak to the volunteerism and the big hearts of Hamiltonians," he said.

It's 9 cents per person, coun. Ferguson says

Meanwhile, coun. Lloyd Ferguson says he's proud to take $50,000 from the reserve fund and put it toward this effort.

"I did the arithmetic and $50,000 works out to nine cents a person," Ferguson said. 

"I don't think there's a person in Hamilton that wouldn't support donating nine cents of our taxpayers' money to this great cause."