'A little bit of Christmas, a little bit of normalcy': How you can help Ukrainian newcomers this Christmas
A non-profit is collecting donations to help make the holiday season a little more special for Ukrainian families who recently arrived in Manitoba, fleeing violence in their homeland.
The Ukrainian National Federation of Canada’s (UNF) Winnipeg branch is hosting a special breakfast for families on Dec. 17 at its Main Street building.
“The kids and their families have gone through so much turbulence and upheaval over the course of the last nine months or so, so we wanted to bring them a little bit of Christmas, a little bit of normalcy to their lives, and just to welcome them to Winnipeg and to show them that Winnipeggers care,” said event co-chair Tony Zerucha.
Families who attend will be treated to a pancake breakfast and a special appearance from Santa Claus himself.
Zerucha hopes every child who attends will also leave with a present, but the federation needs Winnipeggers’ help to do it.
The federation is hosting a toy drive to help make this happen. It is calling on the public to bring new toys to the UNF facility at 935 Main Street on Mondays to Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Zerucha said they have already received many items for young children, and are now in need of gifts for kids ages three to 12.
“We have a team of folks ready to wrap them and get them ready for the 17th, and then we'll hand them out there,” he said.
“If we get more toys than there are people coming to the breakfast, there are so many people that have registered with the UNF that we’ll make sure that we deliver them to their homes, as well.”
Zerucha notes UNF has registered more than 2,600 families who have recently arrived in Winnipeg, fleeing Russian aggression, to receive food, clothing, furniture and other essentials. These items were also supplied mainly through donations from the public.
With the holiday season approaching, Zerucha knows Winnipeggers will come through again.
“Manitobans are known for being very generous folks. We’d love that when they’re out shopping, they throw an extra toy in the cart and deliver it to us, and we can guarantee you it’ll brighten someone’s Christmas,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.