'I realized they weren't prepared': Teacher organizes clothing donation drive to get Ukrainian newcomers ready for winter
The Free Store for Ukrainian Newcomers received a boost on Thursday from a group of Edmonton students.
Grade 8 students from Meadowlark Christian School not only donated nearly 40 backs of clothing, they helped sort them as well.
The store, which provides clothing and housewares for Ukrainians fleeing the war, is run by volunteers.
Spanish teacher Nestor Gil got the idea last fall to collect the clothing.
"I had invited two of my Ukrainian families that go to my school over for Thanksgiving, and in talking with them I realized they weren’t prepared for the Edmontonian winter," Gil said on Thursday.
"I kind of wanted to help them and help other Ukrainian refugees that come just to be more acclimatized and have clothes to prepare themselves."
The students held a fashion show with the items to encourage more donations.
Gil said he immigrated to Canada himself in his youth.
"I remember it was really tough for my family just being alone, especially in the cold weather."
"I can sort of relate to how some of these refugees are feeling."
Artem Raylyan is one of Gil's students. He came to Edmonton from Ukraine last summer.
"In Canada, it’s so cold…but my dad and my mom, they tell me it’s great."
Gil says Raylyan learns English while his other students learn Spanish. He's also keeping up with his Ukrainian lessons from back home.
"I think it’s important for students to see that. He works so hard at our school, trying to catch up with our English, learn our subjects, and still he’s a pretty happy kid."
He hopes students will learn a valuable lesson from the exercise.
"I hope they remember that the events that they did, the donations they gathered up, even if they thought maybe it was something small they were doing at the time, it actually makes a huge global impact to our community."
You can find out how to donate to the the Free Store for Ukrainian Newcomers online.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's David Ewasuk.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7011538.1724408730!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Rail workers pushing back hard against federal government move to get them back to work
Rail workers pushed back hard Friday against the federal government's move to get them back on the job, with a new strike notice and a regulatory challenge making it unclear when freight traffic will fully resume.
BREAKING Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he's suspending his presidential bid and backing Donald Trump
Robert F. Kennedy said Friday he's suspending his independent presidential bid and will seek to remove his name from the ballot in battleground states because he believes his presence in the race would help Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
Body found in Ont. identified as B.C. woman who went missing 19 years ago
A body discovered in a wooded area near Rockwood, Ont. has finally been identified as a missing British Columbia woman.
'Dry promotions': Here's what a money expert recommends when the title outweighs the paycheque
Here's how to navigate a 'dry promotion' in your employment, according to a money expert on CTV's Your Morning.
Vision loss, high cholesterol among growing list of risk factors for dementia, review says
Vision loss and high cholesterol are two of the newest risk factors that have been identified as early indicators of dementia, a leading medical journal has found.
Late French film star Alain Delon wanted his dog buried with him. The dog gets to live
Before he died this week, French film icon Alain Delon once suggested he wanted his beloved sheepdog Loubo buried with him. To the relief of animal lovers around France, Loubo will be allowed to survive.
Ontario woman thought she spent $39 on theatre tickets. She didn't. Here's what happened
An Ontario woman paid seven times more for her theatre tickets than she thought she did. 'I was shocked. I had no idea the tickets were going to cost that much.'
Murder conviction overturned, new trial ordered in Vancouver killing
British Columbia's highest court has thrown out a first-degree murder conviction and ordered a new trial in the killing of a senior on the doorstep of his East Vancouver home.
Right to enjoy property doesn't trump freedom of expression: 'Freedom Convoy' defence
The lawyer for 'Freedom Convoy' organizer Tamara Lich is arguing that a person's right to freedom of expression is not trumped by another's right to the enjoyment of property.