Rally to show support for Ukraine – Aug 7 at VAG
A rally to show continued support for Ukraine takes place tomorrow – Sunday, August 7th starting at 4pm at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Conversational Ukrainian Language Classes
Are you interested in learning how to speak Ukrainian? Or, maybe you are a bit rusty and you would like to brush up on your speaking ability. We are considering the possibility of offering conversational Ukrainian classes for adults in the fall. If you are interested, please email us at: info@ivanfranko.ca and indicate if your Ukrainian language proficiency is:
- No proficiency to speak or understand the language
- Beginning level of proficiency – some limited understanding of the Ukrainian language and limiited speaking ability
- Intermediate proficiency – a reasonable ability to comprehend when others are speaking Ukrainian and speaking ability is workable but rusty
- Advanced proficiency – very good understanding and speaking ability
To determine if there is an interest, please email by August 15th. At that time we will decide if we will proceed and provide more details.
Next Friday Night Supper – Sep 16
There will be no Friday Night Supper in August as we are taking a much-needed break. See you on September 16th for our next FNS. A BIG thank you to all our staff and volunteers for their hard work to make this monthly take-out dinner such a great success!
Request For Help From The Richmond Food Bank
The Food Bank is having an influx of Displaced Ukrainians signing up for their services during their Saturday distributions (10:40-2:00) and there is a significant language barrier.
The Food Bank is looking for two translators that are fluent in Ukrainian to assist with newly arrived Ukrainians accessing services. Please click on the following link if you are interested in volunteering:
Trauma Workshop well-attended with positive feedback
This past weekend on July 16t-17th we hosted a two-day Trauma Workshop presented by therapist, Crystal Arber, and her team. Our Society was very pleased to welcome 17 women with children who recently fled Ukraine. We provided them a space to meet and snacks and lunches over the two days. We also presented all participants with a beautiful handmade quilt donated by the Boundary Bay Quilters Guild. Feedback from the participants was very positive and they were beyond grateful to us for hosting them as they worked on processing their recent traumatic experiences.
Oban Festival A Success!
This past weekend on July 16th, our Society participated in the Steveston Buddhist Temple Oban Festival. We were able to set up a Ukrainian-themed display table that was beautifully arranged by Fran Zukewich and some of our volunteers. In addition, a craft table for children was organized by Tasha Zukewich. We were honoured to be a part of the festivities and a community partner with the Steveston Buddhist Temple.
B.C. Government Announces Financial Assistance For Displaced Ukrainians
Check out the following link for details of financial assistance for newly arrived Displaced Ukrainians:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022SDPR0044-001029
Raffle Fundraiser A Success
A big thank you to everyone who supported our recent fundraiser raffle. We raised $1800 which will be very helpful towards assisting Displaced Ukrainians in our community. We are very grateful to the following businesses that donated gift cards, coffee, and flower planters: Save-On-Foods, Freshco, Safeway, White Spot, Newmans Fine Foods, Seafair Gourmet Meats, St. Germain Bakery, Paradise Mountain Organic Coffee, Prickly Pear Garden Center, Chans Nursery, Polonia Andouille Sausage, Home Depot, Penguin Meat 4, and Bespoke Bags Steveston.