Jane and Luka's Ukrainian Family Need Our Help

My name is Virginia (Ginny) Brucker. My husband Charlie and I started Nanoose Community Services many years ago. Our friends know that we love to volunteer for good causes. And we’ve just learned of a wonderful family that needs

our, and your, help.

 

Luka and Jane are from Ukraine. They have been living in Nanaimo for a few years and have a little boy, David, who is 3. Jane is a student at VIU, and Luka delivers furniture for a local store.

 

When Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24th, their family members began to reach out. Although they live in a one-bedroom apartment, of course they said, “Yes, of course, please come.”

 

Luka’s mother, Oksana flew out first and is so glad to be safe with Jane and Luka.

 

Jane’s sister, Victoriia, and her 18-month-old daughter Sofia, and her 10-year-old son Arsen, will be coming very soon. They are bringing 16-year-old Yevheniia who is the daughter of a dear friend, whose mother was desperate to send her to safety in Canada. They all lived in Kharkiv before the war—their city has been almost totally destroyed.

 

A few days later, Oksana’s sister and brother-in-law, Tetiana and Vladymir, knew they needed to escape from their hometown Chernihiv.

 

Soon afterwards, Luka’s cousin, Iryna and her five year old son, Tymur and eleven-year-old daughter Yevheniia called. “Please, we just need a piece of the floor. And water.”

 

Life has been so very hard since they left their home. They had to leave their hometown Sulzhin, Iryna’s husband Yurii joined the territorial defence and staying in Ukraine. They are eager to come to Canada as soon as possible, and the paperwork process has begun.

 

All of the family members have travelled long distances under incredibly difficult conditions and are in Poland or Finland waiting to come to Canada.

 

When they arrive shortly, there will be all the expenses of housing and feeding TEN additional people for Luka and Jane. A duplex above their own apartment had to be rented for their extended family.

 

All of the family members are profoundly grateful that they will soon be safe in Nanaimo. They are eager to contribute to our community in any way they can and are determined to find employment very quickly. But work permits will take time. And healing from the trauma they have experienced will take some time too.

 

Jane and Luka and their familieswould be so appreciative of any contribution you can make. They just need our help for a few months.

 

Please donate whatever you can. No amount is too small - ignore the “fundraising goal” I just had to punch in a figure. Every penny will be passed on to the families.

 

Thank you, and bless you, each and every one.