Kelowna mom supporting son's humanitarian efforts in Ukraine through donations

More than 100 people lined up outside a Ukrainian church this afternoon, including a Kelowna woman whose son is heading to Ukraine to provide humanitarian aid.

The line was so long at the Ukrainian Catholic Church for its fundraiser to provide Ukraine with medical supplies that it stretched around the building and down the sidewalk. Russia invaded the country last month, causing more than a million people to flee.

READ MORE: Kelowna man defending military units in Ukraine

Bonnie Penner said her son, who has military experience, will be travelling to Ukraine and assisting in humanitarian efforts, but declined to list more on where he will be working as she’s concerned about his safety. She also donated to the church Saturday afternoon, March 12.

Her son, originally from Kelowna, is part of a group of 30 men from across the world who are connected through their military experience who want to help out, Penner said.

“He feels called to support peace, so he’s on a humanitarian mission under the guidance of the Ukrainian government,” she said.

He will be leaving for two months in the next few weeks and will be transporting medical supplies as well as food and water to the front lines, she said.

She’s collecting donations collecting donations to provide the men with body armour and to cover their plane tickets.

READ MORE: Russia strikes near Ukrainian capital; port city under siege

"It was the right thing to do. I had to find a way to help," Penner said.

Donations are being collected through her website and she will also be giving donations to Ukrainian groups in town like the church.

Lilia Soltysmykhnevych and Uliana Kotsur are both members of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and are both originally from Ukraine and their families are still there.

“If we have to help someone, we want to do it right away,” Kotsur said. They were surprised to see the long line of people waiting outside to buy Ukrainian food, since the event was only shared in a few Facebook posts.

A Kelowna nurse was also helping gather medical supplies with the church.

Maria Melnky is a first-generation Canadian whose family immigrated from Ukraine. As a nurse with a strong understanding of Ukraine she’s been coordinating the collection of medical supplies from various businesses in Kelowna.

“I can’t comprehend why this is happening, it’s not right. I’m grateful that I can help but the amount of guilt that I feel and I’m not even there. I can’t sleep, I can’t sit still. I just want to go and be there and I want to help,” she said.

A rally for Ukraine is also being held tomorrow outside of City Hall at 2 p.m.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Carli Berry or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.