An April 2 fundraiser held at St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church raised over $21,000, money that will be used to help Ukrainian refugees settle in Sarnia-Lambton as well as provide humanitarian aid to those in Ukraine affected by war.
Hundreds of Sarnians turned out to the church on Saturday morning and afternoon to participate in the Pysanky and Perogies fundraiser.
Two-hundred and forty aspiring artists took part in one of three pysanky (Ukrainian Easter egg) decorating lessons held by The Painted Cat’s Cat Cabajar, while hundreds more visited the church to purchase homemade perogies – which sold out in mere minutes – as well as to participate in a silent auction/raffle held outside the church, with items contributed by numerous local businesses and private donors.
Organizer Cassandra Taylor said that she was thrilled with turnout to the event as well as the overall response from the community, noting that hundreds of local residents had turned out to a vigil held at St. George’s just days after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.
Plans to bring Ukrainian refugee families to Sarnia-Lambton are currently being worked on, she said.
“We are already talking to refugees in Ukraine to plan our next steps for utilizing funds to support in bringing them here,” Taylor said in an email.
For more information, visit the Save Ukraine Sarnia Facebook page.