The organization Kelowna Stands with Ukraine accepted a cheque from Big White on June 8, to help people impacted by war and recent flooding back in their home country.
“It was a very timely donation,” said Denys Seorozhuk, the founder of Kelowna Stands with Ukraine, as the funds came only days after an attack in the south of Ukraine destroyed a dam, flooding surrounding cities.
Kelowna Stands with Ukraine is an organization that was started in 2022 to support people fleeing and fighting the Russian war in Ukraine.
An explosion in Kherson, a Russian-controlled area in the south of Ukraine, damaged a large dam, causing the retaining wall collapse. As a result, the surrounding municipalities were submerged in water.
Seorozhuk said that people were forced to immediately evacuate and homes, businesses and vehicles were all lost in the flood.
“People lost everything.”
Seorozhuk said that the $6,057 donated by Michael Ballingall, the Senior Vice President of Big White Ski Resort will be used to buy food, clean water and water filters for people impacted by the flooding. “We are sending money for relief.”
Kelowna Stands With Ukraine will send the money and water filters to a church in Kherson that is housing evacuees. The church asked not to have their name or any identifiers used as the Russian military is working to suppress support and relief efforts, explained Seorozhuk.
This is the second year that the Big White Ski Resort has supported the local organization, after starting the toque fundraising initiative in April 2022. Proceeds from the sale of yellow and blue Big White toques are donated to the local Ukrainian charity.
On June 22, a fundraising concert by Ukrainian band Probass and Hardi will be held at the Laurel Packing house.
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Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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