Peterborough Stands With Ukraine Fundraiser Being Held At St Theresa Elementary School

A group of women from Peterborough have joined together to organize a fundraising event for Ukraine relief efforts at St Theresa Elementary school on April 30.

The team learning to make perogies ahead of the fundraiser. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Scriver.

As much of the world is watching horrors unfold in Ukraine, the feeling of wanting to do something to help is what brought Krystal LeBreton, Steph Logan, Kateryna Sysoieva, Jennifer Mahoney Scriver and Kaitlyn Cavanagh together.

The idea for a fundraiser happened when LeBreton was chatting with Sysoieva, who is from Ukraine.

“I said I wish something would be happening here, and she said ‘well, let’s just do it’,” said Syosieva. “I thought I don’t know what to do, I’m not that well connected and Krystal just said ‘don’t worry about it, I know what to do’.”

The five women, all connected by LeBreton, began planning in a WhatsApp group chat, some without ever meeting before.

“I feel like I’ve known these ladies forever now,” said Sysoieva, who came to Peterborough seven years ago with her two sons.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Sysoieva’s mother, sister, grandfather and uncle were living in Western Ukraine. Since the invasion her mother and 86 year old grandfather have evacuated to Poland, though her sister and Uncle chose to stay. Her sister is volunteering with relief teams while looking after her uncle, who was a firefighter at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant during the 1986 disaster.

Sysoieva’s sister will help decide what to do with part of the funds raised at the event, as she knows what Ukrainians on the ground need.

Funds will also be donated to Meest, an organization that is delivering humanitarian supplies to Ukraine, and to World Central Kitchen, an organization delivering fresh meals to recently liberated Ukrainian cities.

The event, hosted at St Theresa’s Elementary School will take place from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on April 30. It will feature a raffle, silent auction, bake sale, a 1 km race and more. Sysoieva has also been working hard to teach the other organizers how to make authentic Ukrainian perogies, which will be sold at the fundraiser both fresh and frozen.

“The reaction from the community has been overwhelming,” said Logan. “We’ve already seen so much support and donations coming in from people we don’t even know.”

“There’s been a lot of small businesses owners that have reached out to donate an item or a service which just shows what an amazing community Peterborough is,” said Mahoney Scriver.

Organizers have been posting silent auction items as they have been donated in their Facebook group.

Some items up for grabs are pieces by local artists, gift certificates for 4th Line Theatre, Wildfire Golf Club, massages, local photographers and more.

They are still accepting donations for raffle and silent auction prizes and note that no donation is too small.

To donate a prize or keep updated on the event visit their Facebook page.

“Its not just about Ukraine,” said Sysoieva. “It’s about the truth, it’s about democracy, it’s about beliefs and being who we are. Having rights and living the way we want to live. I think people are recognizing that.”

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