A local group preparing a house for Ukrainian families fleeing the Russian invasion of their country is looking for volunteers.
Lesya Chapman of Chapman’s Ice Cream says the Ukrainian Village of Owen Sound will temporarily house mainly Ukrainian women and children (most men cannot leave Ukraine).
Chapman says they’re working on preparing the house and need more volunteers, “Anybody who is willing to do a little bit of painting, cleaning and donate some of their time…different people are skilled in different ways. Some are good at organizing fundraising events and some are excellent at fixing light fixtures and it seems like we could use all of them,” says Chapman.
Chapman says the Village has received a large furniture donation that will fill much of the house but they are still looking for bunk beds, which she notes have been surprisingly difficult to find.
The group is also looking for someone to assess or repair the roof, and she adds there are carpets in the house that need cleaning. Chapman notes, skilled tradespeople are welcome along with anyone who wants to help.
She says they have been averaging about eight volunteers a day who are painting and cleaning the house and would love to have more.
In order to protect the privacy and security of the families who will stay there, the group prefers not to publicize the location of the house.
Chapman expects some of the families to arrive in a few weeks, and notes the house has four apartments and is being leased at no cost from the City of Owen Sound. The Ukrainians who will be coming will have a Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel Visa (CUAET). She says the plan is to offer the temporary housing for 18-24 months while families settle and adjust, and then help them transition to their own accommodations.
Chapman says community leaders and organizations in Owen Sound and Grey County have come together to offer housing and integration services. Local employers including RONA and Troy Life and Fire Safety say they may be able to offer employment where basic knowledge of English may be sufficient, and Chapman’s may be able to offer employment if transportation challenges can be resolved. The organization 4Ukraine is also offering help connecting Ukrainians with employers in Grey County.
Meanwhile, the Bluewater District School Board has said it will accommodate Ukrainian children, and Chapman notes two Owen Sound schools have English as a second language supports.
She says social services will be offered through the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce and Welcoming Communities Grey Bruce, and fundraising will be done through local rotary clubs.
Chapman notes there will also come a time, once they know who the incoming families are, when the group will likely appeal to the community for donations of self care products, toys, clothes, school supplies and other items depending on their ages.
Lesya Chapman is from Ukraine and has family members who are still there,”It’s heartbreaking every day and very scary,” says Chapman.
Since the invasion in February, Markdale based Chapman’s Ice Cream has made monetary donations to the Ukraine Canada Foundation and has also donated over one thousand first aid kits to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Village core steering committee includes Robert Cordell of Wealth Share Inc., Neale and Maureen Kemp of Aspin Kemp & Associates Inc., Dennis Doige of Doige Building Centres Ltd. and Ashley and Lesya Chapman of Chapman’s Ice Cream.
Chapman says they’re “incredibly grateful” for the help they’ve received so far and says they’ll welcome volunteers for any amount of time, whether that’s a couple of hours or a day or longer.
Any person or business who wants to volunteer or donate services can email ukrainianvillageofowensound@gmail.com
You can learn more about the project on their Facebook page.
