Submitted by Peter Koteles
Castlegar area residents have an opportunity to multiply their donations towards Ukrainian relief efforts.
Recently, the power went out in Castlegar and surrounding communities. For one local resident, this presented more than just the challenge of making sure the pipes didn’t freeze before the power came back on. With a young child dependent upon power to ensure her medical needs were taken care of, it occurred to this Castlegar resident that people in Ukraine live like this all the time, and have done so since the war escalated in February.
After discussing this issue as a family the following morning, they decided to take action by putting forward a matching grant of up to $5,000 – cumulatively $10,000 – towards meeting immediate needs in Ukraine.
If you are interested in helping and taking advantage of this matching opportunity, there are two ways you can get involved.
Firstly, you can meet immediate needs through Ukrainians living in the local Castlegar community. If you do not require a tax receipt — please contact Daryna Bukach at bukachdaryna@gmail.com to find out how you can help.
Through trustworthy contacts living in Ukraine, Bukach is able to channel funds to people on-the-ground in immediate need of help.
An immediate need which was met just this past week was a locally-funded generator, sourced in Poland and hand-carried into Ukraine. It is now being used by family and friends in the capital of Kyiv.
For people needing a donation tax receipt for taxation purposes, funds would be directed to Global Aid Network, Canada. There is an immediate need for funds to transport pallets of humanitarian aid from Western Europe to Ukrainian internally-displaced people and Ukrainian refugees along the surrounding border. $700 will transport one pallet of much-needed clothing, blankets, and other supplies valued at over $1,500. Details about this operation are available by emailing Castlegar resident Peter Koteles at peterk@globalaid.net.
Funds can still be donated beyond the $5,000 matching amount. They would still meet the needs of displaced Ukrainians. They would simply not be matched once the $5,000 amount is reached.
READ MORE: Members of Castlegar’s Ukrainian community gather to remember Terror Famine of 1932
newsroom@castlegarnews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter