Financial and humanitarian aid for Ukrainians is organized in Canada. In Montreal, organizations especially encourage citizens to donate money to the Red Cross and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. And the people are there.
At the Ukrainian Desjardins Caisse populaire de Montréal, on rue Beaubien, the atmosphere is one of anguish, patriotism and solidarity. Yellow and blue flags of various sizes are displayed on the counters and in the waiting room. Employees distribute ribbons in the national colors to wear on the chest, in support of the country resisting the attack on Moscow. Here, almost everyone is of Ukrainian origin and is worried about family members left behind.
“Sometimes we are at work and we no longer know what we are doing. We have to try to calm down,” reports Member Services Officer Kateryna Kij, visibly still in shock from the Russian invasion, launched five days earlier.
Almost all customers who have entered the Caisse since last Thursday, regardless of their origin, ask how they can help Ukrainians, according to Ms.me Kij. “Some people cry with us. Every word of support is very important, it feels good, ”says the exhausted worker.
The Caisse, like the Mouvement Desjardins, then directs people to the Canadian Red Cross. Close to M.me Kij also finds a donation box, the contents of which will be used to support the Ukrainian army.
There are those who cry with us. Every word of support is very important, it feels good.
Five days after launching the emergency fundraiser for the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the Canadian Red Cross raised $17.2 million from the public and institutions. The Government of Canada will contribute $10 million.
A few steps from the Caisse populaire, the Ukrainian grocery store Zytynsky’s Deli is very busy. The manager, Angel Zytynsky, says she has received many tokens of friendship over the past few days, such as flowers, a cake and an angel-shaped trinket. She raised nearly $1,000 in donations in less than four days, which she will donate to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.
Medicines, food and shelter
This foundation, in collaboration with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), has already collected 4 million dollars. She says she has already contributed to the distribution of medicine, food and shelter.
“An estimated 12 million people will be displaced inside Ukraine. It’s a huge crisis,” said CUC Quebec Council President Michael Shwec.
“I get a lot of calls and emails from Quebecers who want to help. I tell them to give money, that’s the most important thing,” said Katherine Smolynec, president of the Quebec branch of the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada.
Several groups of citizens organize the collection of material donations, she notes, and her organization intends to make its premises available for such initiatives. “But everything you can buy here is also on sale in Europe, like in Poland. So by sending money, we avoid transport costs. And needs can change from day to day,” argues Ms.me Smolynec.
His organization, which usually promotes Ukrainian culture, intends to announce very soon fundraising activities to be held in March and April, including benefit concerts.
Funds for loved ones
In 2020, personal remittances to Ukraine accounted for 9.8% of the country’s gross domestic product, according to the World Bank. The general manager of the Ukrainian Caisse populaire Desjardins believes that such remittances among its members are probably “on the rise at the moment by multiples”.
The president of the Caisse’s board of directors, Anastasia Kyva, also sent a substantial amount to her relatives just before the official start of the Russian aggression. “We were afraid that this would be the last time we could send money, that there would be a breakdown in the banking system and that we would completely lose contact,” said the woman who says she has several relatives in the defense. territorial.
Fortunately, M.me Kyva can still communicate with her family members. She checks every morning that they are still alive. And the support shown all over the planet brings them a lot of comfort and motivation, she says.