(Submitted photo/Dan Nesdoly)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Supporting refugees

Local Ukrainian Canadian Congress receives $15,000 donation

Aug 31, 2022 | 2:00 PM

Ukrainian families in the Battlefords are getting more local aid.

Sasktel Pioneers, a group separate from the corporation and made up of past and present employees and their families that make up charitable donations together, donated $15,000 to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) in North Battleford. UCC President, Paul Kardynal, told battlefordsNOW they were overwhelmed by the amount.

“All added up, it’s more than $8,000 in funds we’ve already raised, but this new donation really gives that a boost,” he said.

“We’re really grateful to the SaskTel Pioneers for the donation. We were expecting something from them when they called, but not that much. It’s a good problem to have.”

UCC members are meeting tomorrow to go over where everything will be allocated following a summer of fundraising and donations that included Taste of Culture, lotteries and more.

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“The initial plan was to buy school supplies for refugee children, but now we have to make more decisions on how to best utilize the funds,” Kardynal said.

“We’re also thinking of other supports, such as having students to go into dancing, help organize a Ukrainian school, recreation, etc.”

Kardynal noted that every dollar will have a significant impact on refugee families in the Battlefords.

“It gives them opportunities for cultural and sports activities, maybe even school supplies,” he said. “These parents aren’t flush with money, so this will definitely help.”

“We do some salvage work with recovered materials, along with pay-day lottery, volunteer hours and more,” Dan Nesdoly said on behalf of the Sasktel Pioneers. “We got in touch with Paul and the congress chapter in town and we decided they would be in the best position to ensure the money goes to those who need it most.”

One of the cases that inspired the donation was of a woman who arrived from Ukraine with her 10-year-old and nothing but a suitcase between the two of them.

“There’s mothers with children, when their husbands are staying behind to contribute to the war effort…Some pretty tragic situations for people, so we’re just trying to help them get set up.”

Information on donations to support Ukrainian refugees is available online.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW