P.E.I. yard sale in support of Ukraine raises $18,000
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — When Alla Lebedeva heard the information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, the Ukrainian girl presently dwelling in P.E.I. was in full shock.
She has members of the family each in Russia and Ukraine and has been maintaining an in depth eye on her hometown of Lviv.
“Simply yesterday, I awoke from messages from my brother saying Lviv was bombed,” she stated. “I am simply afraid that tomorrow I will not have the ability to ship him one other message.”
After a rally towards the battle was held in Charlottetown on Feb. 27, Lebedeva and lots of others within the P.E.I. Russian-speaking group needed to attempt to ship assist to Ukraine.
“Many people did not sleep and eat for days. … we could not simply sit and do nothing after we are right here, dwelling in peace and security, and there are folks struggling each day to outlive.”
One of many group members proposed promoting their belongings on Fb Market and sending the cash to Ukraine. Nevertheless, after some brainstorming, members determined a bodily sale would usher in extra money, resulting in the Yard Sale in Assist of Ukraine.
Anya Cherepanova started serving to by partnering with Leesa Robertson, creator of the Stand With Ukraine P.E.I. Facebook group, to assist discover a venue. Robertson was in a position to safe rooms at Central Christian Church in Charlottetown.
“All the pieces got here collectively so rapidly, it is superb,” stated Robertson. “Central Christian Church has been nice, they have been selling the yard sale to their folks, and a number of them got here in to assist volunteer.”
With in depth expertise in retail, Lebedeva took it upon herself to prepare the March 19 occasion in three weeks, regardless of additionally caring for her one-year-old daughter.
“As folks have been dropping issues off at my home, there have been so many tears,” she stated. “There was a lot kindness and heat. Folks did not simply deliver their stuff, they have been gifting their hearts, smiles and compassion.”
After two weeks, she stated there was no area to maneuver in her home.
Each night, two of her associates would come to assist manage the donations so she may at the very least stroll round and push out the stroller.
Promoting objects was not the one approach the group collected cash for Ukraine.
Regardless of working full-time, Marina Pogrebnaia discovered time to design and print Ukrainian T-shirts to promote on the day of the yard sale, bringing in roughly $4,000 in gross sales. One of many volunteers on the fundraiser, the graphic designer from St. Petersburg, Russia, got here to P.E.I. seven years in the past.
“You’ll be able to’t simply stand apart when somebody experiences such tragedy. All of us use our time and skills to the utmost of our talents to assist,” she stated.
Diane Smith attended the yard sale, discovering a print by one among her favorite native artists.
“This occasion exhibits the true Island spirit,” she stated. “Once we know folks need assistance, we’re excited to assist as a lot as we will.”
Lebedeva stated she hopes the objects folks purchased function a reminder that battle is despicable and might solely be stopped when folks unite towards it.
“After this complete expertise, I perceive greater than ever that solely kindness and love can save this world and cease this battle.”
On the time of reporting, estimated donations from the occasion, together with T-shirts gross sales, an artwork public sale and different fundraising actions, totalled over $18,000.
With many group members holding shut household ties in Ukraine, organizers stated donations might be used to straight help victims of battle.
“As a result of we won’t purchase objects right here and ship them to Ukraine as a result of monumental delivery prices, our group organized a community of volunteers in Poland to whom we’re sending cash to purchase all of the wanted objects to ship to the border,” stated Lebedeva. “We publish all receipts and photograph stories of the distributed assist in our group Stand with Ukraine.”
“Our aim is to indicate folks in Ukraine that they don’t seem to be alone and that there are individuals who care about them and help them all over the world and wish to assist out even when they’re distant,” stated Lebedeva.
