Ukrainian refugees furnish empty homes with help of Regina donation centre

When Ukrainians flee to Canada amidthe war with Russia, they arrive with few belongings and often end up in empty homes or apartments, explains Dana Lesiuk. That's something she's been working at resolving.

Lesiuk founded the Regina Donation Centre for Displaced Ukrainiansafter several months of watching the Russian-Ukrainian conflict unfold overseas. It openedin July2022.

She felt compelled to help and now the centre provides essentials to Ukrainian refugees, like couches, dishware or beds which areLesiuk's biggest priority to ensure they aren't sleeping on the floor.

"Everyone was saying there's nothing you can do, like just accept it and know that you can't have control over this kind of situation, of a war," Lesiuk told Shauna Powers, host of Saskatchewan Weekend.

"But there is always something people can do, like at least help the people that are affected by it."

LISTEN | As Russia's war in Ukraine continues, displaced Ukrainian families continue to make their way to the province

Saskatchewan Weekend15:36Helping displaced Ukrainians in Regina

The centre opened at a building in the REAL District, but now operates out of three locations giving out housewares out of one (3303 Grant Rd),furniture and larger items from its warehouse (1660 Park St.),and clothing from a third (1629 Park St.).

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada connect the refugees with the centre.

One of the most stark memories Lesiuk has from helping Ukrainian refugees is bringing a couch into thehome of a man and his son three months after arriving in Canada, which was empty aside frombutterfly decorations on the wall.

She said many of the newcomers are too proud to ask for help, taking the minimal amount of necessities if any at all, or only on the stipulation that they volunteer their help to the centre.

The Ukrainians who benefited from the donations, Lesiuk said, were also happy to see how many people were offering items to help them.

WATCH | A Saskatoon shop, now shuttered, helped Ukrainians displaced by war to shop for free.

Baba's Closet: One Saskatoon woman has organized donations for those fleeing Ukraine

2 years ago

Duration 2:43

A Saskatoon woman has created a store for Ukrainians displaced by war to shop for free. From linens, to dishes, to clothing, to toys and food, she's got something for everyone.

"It turned all the tears from everyday into something a lot better," Lesiuk said.

By late February 2024, more than 200,000 Ukrainians had fled to Canada since the war began two years prior.

"We got all the stuff we need from [Lesiuk], from the donation centre, and that's why some of us decided to at least to do something, to volunteer," Brenych said.

He had long wanted to travel from the Ukraine to North America. When the war started, he was in Warsawwith his brother. He stayed there for months before getting a chance to move to North America.

Lesiuk said he's been at the donation centre every Sunday for more than a year. For Brenych, the volunteering feels more like a community gathering than work because of who he's met there.

The organization accepts smaller donations at its housewares location, and larger donations, like bedsheets and furniture, at its warehouse location.