After nearly a year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, Ukrainian refugees are still arriving and settling in Prince George.
Eva Gillis, Share Hope’s Chair, confirmed to My PG Now that by February third 155 Ukrainian refugees will be living in Prince George.
There could be more, in the past they have had Ukrainians they did not know about, who arrived in Prince George through other means, reach out for support.
When asked what Share Hope’s biggest need is right now, Gillis was very clear: “money.”
“We always try to support them for the first three months if they require financial assistance,” she said.
“It goes out pretty quick when you are helping them for that length of time,” saying some families require as much as $3,000 a month to support.
In April, proceeds from the miracle theatre production will be going to Share Hope, but Gillis thinks the time in between could be tight.
Donations can be made online here.
Another large need is for host families – preferably in neighborhoods that are near a bus route.
“A few times I have had to resort to going on the PG for Ukraine website and plead for somebody. We have been fortunate so far, I have always found somebody, but it would be nice to build up the list of available hosts,” said Gillis.
“Other than that, we are doing really well,” she said, looking at other generous donations from the community.
“Sometimes a car is donated [anonymously]. There are just so many generous people in Prince George, I cannot commend everyone enough.”
The largest donation so far has been a full, heated warehouse on first avenue from KMS tools, which Share Hope has used to store donated furniture that will eventually be used by an incoming family.
That generosity might be encouraging people settling here to plant their roots, Gillis said many Ukrainians are deciding to make try and make Prince George their full time homes.
“They cannot believe the kindness around here. They remark and say ‘it is almost like everyone’s second name around here is volunteer.'”
Work on the daycare they are setting up in the basement of Saint George’s Ukrainian Church is still ongoing, with no hard opening date set.