Kherson, Ukraine: Get Larissa Home for Winter

Hello, my name is Kelly and I am raising funds for my family in Southern Ukraine.

My great-grandparents arrived in Saskatchewan in the early 1900s as part of the first wave of immigrants to Canada. While our family has grown and settled in the Canadian diaspora with a strong link to our culture, we were put in touch with cousins living in Southern Ukraine a few years ago through a relative's deep genealogy research. In 2018, I had the privilege of meeting these cousins in person in Kherson, Ukraine. It was a feeling of instant connection. I was struck by how my Ukrainian cousins laughed the same way my aunts did back home, how nourishing the Ukrainian dishes they prepared were for the soul, and how familiar some faces appeared in photos of relatives I've never known. It was surreal given we had just met over video calls before that trip.

This year has been incredibly difficult for Ukrainians fighting for their independence, freedom and safety. For nine nerve-wracking months, my relatives have lived with intense uncertainty and danger. Some of them remain trapped in occupied regions of southern Ukraine near Kherson, whereas others have experienced liberation after long stretches of occupation. The road ahead is long and daunting for these family members as their homes have been severely damaged by shelling.

I am reaching out to family members, friends, neighbours and members of the Ukrainian Canadian diaspora for help raising money for my cousin's mother Larissa to repair her home. Due to the severity of the shelling, her roof, windows and walls all require repair before she can move back in. Together with your help, I'm hoping she can be back in her home before the winter arrives.

All funds will be sent directly to Larissa in Southern Ukraine to pay for her home repairs.

Thank you for your help!

Слава Україні!

For safety reasons, I've included a photo of our Ukrainian-Canadian family members sending a message of support to our relatives in Kherson.