Help Our Ukranian Friends Relocate to Canada

For those who don’t already know us, we are Deacon Michael and Dawn Hayes. Like many people, perhaps even you, we were shocked and horrified as literally thousands of innocent people and families were killed, assaulted, and left homeless after Russia invaded Ukraine. And millions more were forced to flee their homes, towns and villages often with only a suitcase or bag to carry.

We have been sponsoring low-income children living in Ukraine for several years, through Chalice, a registered Canadian charity. We have gotten to know many of these children and their families. And through emails, etc., we know that their suffering is economic, social and psychological no matter where they live in Ukraine. We all know about the shortages of the necessities of life including food, drinkable water, electricity, heating, etc. The fear they face and the air raid sirens are part of life now. And they are all frightened.

One of the families we sponsor - a widowed father, daughter and son - have made the difficult decision to leave Ukraine and start a new life in Canada. Unlike many of the families fleeing Ukraine, they do not have the financial resources to pay for the cost of visas, transportation and basic resettlement expenses.

We would like you to meet Igor, a widower whose wife died about 5 years ago, Inna his 12 year-old daughter and Vadym, his 7 year-old son. Igor has been single-handedly raising Inna and Vadym and they are a lovely family, but were very poor before the war. Now their struggle for basic survival is more desperate than ever.

With help from Chalice representatives, here and in Ukraine, Igor has managed to secure the visas to leave Ukraine. We are appealing to your generosity to help us raise the necessary funds to get this family to Canada where they can move forward in building a new life in a safe environment.

The family will relocate to Saskatoon where Ukrainian is a second language and many supports are already in place for newcomers from Ukraine. A contact through Chalice is assisting in finding housing for Igor and his children, and has even secured a guaranteed job for Igor in his field of construction in Saskatoon.

This is where you come in.

Our goal is to raise $15,000 to pay for transportation and some of the initial costs of resettlement, as the family will be leaving Ukraine with just the suitcases they can carry. Please search your hearts and give what you can to help this family build a new and safe life here in Canada.

Thank you and may God bless you for your kindness and generosity.

Michael and Dawn Hayes