Website makes giving to Ukraine easy for Manitobans

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This article was published 22/03/2022 (1021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ukrainian-born web designer Andriy Rudnyk and a small group of supporters wanted to tap in to their “survivors’ guilt” to help people fleeing the war and make it easier for Manitobans to pitch in.

They have a launched a website that guides people through a single page to donate to one of three causes, to petition MPs to advocate support for Ukraine and to several pro-Ukrainian news sources.

“We’re all living here in Winnipeg, but some have moved here recently. Some are exchange students. Some have lived here for a decade-plus. But I think the overall feeling that everyone has, the motivating factor, is guilt. It’s some kind of survivor’s guilt,” said Rudnyk, who was born in Kalush, Ukraine, near the Polish border, and lived in the country until he was 13.

The group wanted to make it easy for Manitobans to know how to get involved.

“We’re spoiled for choice on ways to support, so it almost feels sometimes overwhelming. Who do I donate to and where do I go? Do I buy from Ukrainian restaurants? Do I not buy Russian goods? Is that the best way? We wanted to make it very clear,” he said.

The site, mbhelpsukraine.ca, lists three categories: financial aid, political aid and informational resources.

The financial section contains links to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, the Canadian Red Cross and the Armed Forces of Ukraine via the National Bank of Ukraine.

While many Manitoba fundraisers have focused on humanitarian aid, Rudnyk said his group felt it was important to include the option to support the Ukrainian military.

“I understand that it seems like a more aggressive approach to it. And the humanitarian crisis is terrible. It’s absolutely enormous, the number of displaced people,” he said. “But first and foremost, this is a military problem that is causing the humanitarian problem.”

The International Organization for Migration estimates 6.48 million people had been displaced by the Russian invasion as of March 16.

The next section contains templates for people who want to implore their members of Parliament to advocate for stronger political measures to back Ukraine. It also links people directly to a search for politicians’ email addresses.

The final section, titled “Help Fight Russian Propaganda,” has links to several news sources, including some in and near Ukraine.

The site is just one of myriad ways Manitobans have stepped up.

Callum Morrison was inspired to hold a fundraising concert in Altona, which raised $18,000 for the Mennonite Central Committee’s humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

As he thought about friends he’d made while travelling in Ukraine, about being welcomed as a guest to a Christmas dinner, Morrison felt he needed to do something.

“I was just sitting at home and thinking we really need to do something in our community, not only to show support for our local Ukrainian community members, but also to contribute something towards the humanitarian effort in Ukraine,” he said.

He called his pastor, who gave him the green light to use the church for the event. Artists immediately signed up to join the concert, including violinists and a Winnipeg jazz band. Others pitched in by donating baking or goods to for a raffle.

A prerecorded message from Morrison’s friend in Ukraine was played at the event. The friend, identified only as Anton, detailed the killing of citizens who had lined up for groceries and while trying to flee their villages. At one point, he speaks about the siege Mariupol, saying “almost all the buildings in the city are damaged or destroyed.”

Scott Campbell, director of development for Mennonite Central Committee, said the organization is “overwhelmed by the response from Canadians” for needs in Ukraine.

The funds it raises will be used by church groups in Ukraine for emergency food and other needs, and for trauma counselling.

Recently, two of MCC’s thrift shops in the province organized special sales days for Ukraine, and raised more than $20,000.

In Winnipeg, fashion designer Lennard Taylor launched a fundraising effort Wednesday. The company is selling a Ukraine hand-painted Brenda shirt, for just under $500 each. The shirts are made to order and are individually painted by Taylor.

“I’m super blessed and fortunate to have a wonderful following and career that I can help people with,” Taylor said. “So I wanted to do something that would matter and something that will impact those (refugees) that are going to be coming here to Canada.”

The designer sold two within the first few hours; all proceeds will go to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.

Winnipeg-based humanitarian agencies have been blessed with donations.

To date, about $550,000 for Ukraine has been donated to Canadian Lutheran World Relief.

That amount “is phenomenal,” said spokesperson David Turner.

“There’s still a steady stream of more coming in every day from individuals and from churches who are collecting money together to help.”

The money will buy food, medical equipment and other assistance, he said.

Canadians have donated more than $516,000 to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, said spokesperson Gaylene Dempsey.

The money will be used by its members to respond with emergency food aid in Ukraine and surrounding countries where the refugees have fled to, she said.

— with files from John Longhurst

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca