'Community has been so kind': Coalhurst, Alta. family raising funds to host Ukrainian family
A Coalhurst, Alta. family has been working over the last month to host a family from Ukraine — but there’s been some unexpected challenges along the way.
While bringing the family over was always going to be be challenging, the recent delay of the 14-year-old daughter’s visa has complicated things.
The family was supposed to arrive in Alberta on Tuesday but the journey has since been pushed back to May 19.
The delay has made an already expensive flight even pricier.
To help with the funds, host Sherry Silvaggio has created a GoFundMe to pay for the airline tickets. And while donations are greatly appreciated, Silvaggio says she hopes the effort can raise more to help the family.
“It’s kind of started to roll a little bit but not as much as we would like to see. We do need more help than what’s in there, that’s almost been used so far with all the hiccups,” Silvaggio said. “But we’re getting there, we’re getting closer every day.”
Without the proper funds, it’s been difficult for the Ukrainian family to make it to Canada.
“Each ticket that we have to push, there’s a fee, or the price difference in the seating … it’s not cheap for them, they’re spending everything that they have and then they have to start from scratch all over again," Silvaggio said.
"And a lot of the families have children, and as a mom that’s hard."
While the GoFundMe is hoping for more traction, Silvaggio added she is incredibly grateful for the community support so far, and that it’s been mind-blowing how generous people have been.
Families have also been donating things like bedding, clothes, and makeup, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
“We’ve had a group of college students put together a little bit of everything. They went out and got teddy bears, they even researched what story book characters were popular in Ukraine so that the kids would know what they had," Silvaggio said.
"We’ve had a lady bring in drawing supplies, anything to do with crafts that these specific girls like to do so they have some familiarity at my home when they get there and feel comfortable.
“One gentleman has offered to fill our freezer with meat while we have this family. The only thing he asked is that he’d like to meet them first when they arrive, and offered to drive them places. It’s unbelievable actually, the community has been so kind.”
A project of this scale is about more than just Silvaggio’s family, and she really appreciates the help that has come in so far.
“It’s not an 'us' thing, it’s an 'everybody' thing. And everyone has been so generous, and everyone that has donated to the go fund me so far … it has helped more than they realize. Every five bucks makes a difference in this situation,” she said.
Silvaggio added she feels lucky that she has the resources available to host this family.
“If you have it, give it, right? That’s what I’d want if it was me in their shoes with my children.”
Anyone interested in helping this Ukrainian family make it to Canada can donate on through the GoFundMe.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it’s too late
She was lying in bed on a Thursday morning, thinking about the man she loved, hoping to win his freedom before time ran out.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.