Furniture donations needed to support Ukrainian newcomers in Edmonton
An organization helping Ukrainian newcomers settle into their new lives in Edmonton is hosting a furniture donation blitz to help restock their warehouse.
For nearly 10 months, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Alberta Provincial Council has been operating a furniture depot in a northwest warehouse, supplying newcomers with essentials to set up their homes.
While many people enjoyed a break over the holidays, Ukrainian newcomers fleeing the continued Russian invasion continued and the supply of mattresses, couches, and kitchen tables has depleted.
Approximately 35 families utilize the free warehouse weekly, and most need at least three mattresses, explained Orysia Boychuk, UCC-APC president.
"The need continues," she said. "There's a lot of pressure and demands on families arriving."
"This is a little way to help get them started. We feel this is really critical, so they are not sleeping on the floor."
Donations of furniture are desperately needed, Boychuk said, in addition to volunteers to help sort and prepare the gently used household items for their new owners.
The whole operation is housed in the Boilermakers Lodge 146 building near the High Park Industrial area.
That space was donated to the UCC-APC by the local chapter of the international labour union as a way to help Ukrainians affected by the invasion.
"We are very, very glad we could help," said Hugh MacDonald, the lodge's business manager.
UCC-APC volunteers move mattresses in the Boilermakers Lodge 146 building (CTV News Edmonton/Jessica Robb).
MacDonald said that as soon as the invasion began last February, the union membership voted to donate $10,000 to support the UCC-APC. When he went to present the cheque, he saw how small the Ukrainian non-profit cultural association's office space was.
"I thought, my gosh, they need more space," MacDonald added. "And we had more space."
"This space is big enough for us to carry on with our routine training programs and also allow the Ukrainian Canadian Congress to use it as a much-needed furniture depot."
Yulia Borovska arrived in Edmonton last May with her family and relied on the furniture depot.
"We really appreciate all people who donate here to the warehouse because it's very important for newcomers to have the things they need for daily life," she told CTV News Edmonton.
Volunteers move furniture at the UCC-APC furniture depot for Ukrainian newcomers (CTV News Edmonton/Jessica Robb).
She now volunteers at the depot as a way to give back to the community that helped her. On top of helping, it acts as a way to meet fellow newcomers.
"It's difficult to start your life from scratch because you can't fit your previous life in your suitcase," said Zhenia Lubinets, a fellow volunteer and newcomer who arrived in September.
"You need everything," she added. "It's a good thing to know that you are not alone in a foreign country."
To volunteer, donate, or for more information, visit the UCC-APC's website.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jessica Robb
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.