Hearts United for Ukraine Raises $3300 for Humanitarian Aid! 

Our fundraiser dinner was a huge success, raising $3300 after expenses. Funds will be sento to Help Us Help to support their camps for children, and to Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program or CUSAP.   

Our guest speaker, Adrian Petriew shared his lived experience from his recent trip to Ukraine, sharing vignettes of what he saw and heard about the affects of the war and how people are learning to live with the "new normal."  He emphasized how Ukrainians feel isolated and alone in their fight to preserve their freedom and democracy and how much it bolsters their spirits when they learn of events like ours that send the message that they are not forgotten. 

Thanks again to Viktoriia and Khrystian Karalesh for their soulful bandura music and songs, to our own Družba vocal ensemble for their Ukrainian harmonies, and to Stanislava for her accompaniment. Adding Ukrainian flavor to our event was a folk costume display from Olha Lui and Ukrainian photographic scenes produced by Iryna Mitnovych.

Our event would not have been possible without the dedication of our outstanding chef, Oksana Kelvich and all of her Ukrainian volunteer helpers.  Thanks also go out to Alona Ulianets for her beautifully crafted Ukrainian cookies, and event coordinators, Nataliya Zaliznyak and Viktoriya Zamyatina, and all who helped with set-up and cleanup and at the registration desk. 

After an evening of feasting and warm fellowship the Grace Notes singers sent us off with a blessing in their characteristic acappella style with an Irish Blessing.