At Brantford church, inundated with donations for refugees fleeing Ukraine after Russia’s invasion, says more help is needed.
But the Brantford Slavic Full Gospel Church at 70 Superior St. is putting a hold on accepting further donations of clothing.
“We started this little help center and people responded,” said Pastor Oleg Stepus, who emigrated to Canada from Ukraine.
The church’s fellowship room is now partially filled with large boxes of donated goods and a sorting center has been set up on a stage.
“Look at all these donations. We had to say, ‘Stop with the clothing.’”
Stepus said the focus now is on gathering money and household items and arranging housing and transportation for refugees, who will be arriving in Brantford over the next few weeks.
A mother and her two daughters, aged 12 and 8, arrived Saturday and were taken in by a church member. Seven more families are expected soon.
The church has about 50 members, who live in Brantford and the surrounding area. Most are from Ukraine but some come from Russia. Stepus said he has encouraged members to show compassion to one another and focus on offering aid to refugees.
“We can be a hub and will find sponsors and help them find jobs,” he said. “But they need places to stay, and maybe an old car to get to work.”
His wife, Irene, noted that there’s a need for beds, pillows and linens.
The couple have just returned from Poland, where they spent five days traveling around the Warsaw area, visiting gymnasiums and community centers filled with refugees sleeping on floors.
“It is just so sad to see,” said Irene.
“We were trying to find a place to print things and stumbled into a station where all the refugees were arriving. It’s mostly women and children, some carrying just two plastic shopping bags and nothing else, and they are all in shock.”
They helped people fill out applications to come to Canada.
Church member Olga Yamnyuk, owner of Brantford Blooms at 344 Colborne St., is accepting donations and, in return, giving out packages of seeds for sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine.
Donations can be dropped off at the church on Wednesdays from 5 pm to 9 pm and Sundays, 10 am to 3 pm
Offers of funds, housing or other help can be made by calling Irene at 519-209-3856 or Oleg at 519-755-0137.
Monetary donations are eligible for charitable tax credits.
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