The Ukrainian Village of Owen Sound is asking the community for volunteers and donations as it continues to welcome families fleeing the Russian invasion of their country.
The group is currently housing five Ukrainian families in a house that’s been renovated into apartments in downtown Owen Sound.
They are looking for people to drive families when needed, as well as English as a second language teachers, and donations to keep up with heating and utility bills. Some volunteer positions such as driving include a screening process to ensure the safety of the families.
The Ukrainian Village of Owen Sound is also asking for toy donations for the children this holiday season, as well as gift cards for the families, preferably to the downtown Metro grocery store, a location the families can easily walk to, as well as other stores in the downtown and Walmart.
The toy drive drop off is at Bayshore Broadcasting’s head office in downtown Owen Sound at 270-9th Street East. Gifts can be donated any Thursday or Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. by December 15th.
Most men have been required to stay in Ukraine to defend the country, and the families in Owen Sound are made up of mothers and children, aged six to 12 and a few toddlers.
According to the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce, there are about 50 families who have been relocated from Ukraine to Grey Bruce. If the toy drive sees a larger than needed response, the intent of UVOS is to share those toys with other local groups or charities.
The gift certificates are intended to help the mothers pay for groceries and clothes for their families. When the families left Ukraine, they could only bring a suitcase with them.
The mothers are all working, some six or seven days a week in an effort to earn enough money to find their own place to live, which would allow for other families to take their place in the Ukrainian Village of Owen Sound. They are also working to put away money to secure their own transportation and are working to obtain driver’s licences here.
The Village is supported by a board made up of six local people who have worked to bring Ukrainians to Owen Sound and to support them while they’re here.
Board member Rob Cordell says they’re also asking for monetary donations to help pay for utilities including heat, water and electricity at the Ukrainian Village House. Cheques can be sent to the Markdale Rotary Club which is administering the donations because it has charitable organization status. You can include a note marking the funds for the Ukrainian Village of Owen Sound or UVOS, or to help Ukrainian families in the area.
Meanwhile, if affordable housing can be found, the plan is for the current families in the village to relocate to longer term housing at the end of this school year. Board member Marion Neisen says they’ll likely be in need of furniture and housewares, as they came here with very few things other than some clothes. The UVOS group has limited storage capacity and is asking people who have items to donate, to hold onto them until late spring when the families move. UVOS will update their Facebook page closer to that time and explain what will be needed.
If you would like to offer your help, you can email ukrainianvillageofowensound@gmail.com
You can also visit their Facebook page.
Three UVOS board members were guests recently on the Open Line show on AM 560 CFOS. LISTEN HERE for a full discussion about what’s needed, or click on the audio bar below: