Photo from the Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools Facebook page.

By Curtis Galbraith

Community

Local teacher starts Easter Baskets for Ukraine fund-raiser

Apr 7, 2022 | 1:38 PM

A teacher at St. Catherine Catholic School in Grande Prairie has started an effort called Easter Baskets for Ukraine.

Bilyana Coburn says the money would be collected here and used to buy supplies for the baskets from a store in Lviv, Ukraine. A store in Poland could also be used if the one in Ukraine is not available.

“So, let’s say if a family would like to purchase a basket for $20 that will buy (another) family flour, sugar, salt, oil, butter, milk, canned vegetables, rice, buckwheat and oats,” she said.

“And, because it’s a plus, they will also get sausage, fruit, yogurt, breakfast cereal, pasta, cheese, and I’ve added some assorted candy for the kids.”

Coburn says she is working with a priest in a smaller community near Lviv. He and another volunteer will ensure the baskets get put together and delivered to families in need. A shelter there currently houses 300 people.

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“That’s where most people are now deciding to stay in Ukraine because they don’t want to leave their family behind. You know, sons and husbands that are out on the front lines. Their family members just say no, I want to stay in Ukraine, so they stay there.”

Coburn says that same priest has set up cots and beds in a church. A kindergarten for kids in an orphanage has also become a place for people to stay.

She adds people from that same area have not been working for a month or two and don’t have enough money for food.

Coburn says they are hoping to have baskets for both Easter coming up on the weekend of April 15 and Orthodox Easter, which will be observed the weekend of April 22.

“Mostly because there’s a big Orthodox community, obviously, and a Catholic (community). Help is help and the way I see it, and maybe it’s just me, but I like to be able to help and if it falls on Easter, that is amazing, right, that’s even better because it’s such a special time.”

Coburn says Easter is an important holiday in Ukraine with families traditionally taking food baskets to church to be blessed

Coburn adds her mother is from Ukraine. She was born in Bulgaria, her dad’s home country, before moving to Canada when she was 12 and came to Grande Prairie when she was 18 and says the Swan City is now her home.

She says she has some “amazing memories” of visiting Ukraine when she was a child and says it is very sad to see what is happening there.

“The families that are coming, we say a family and what I actually mean is women with children and the elderly. There is a lot of sadness because imagine having to leave your brother, your husband, (even) your elderly family member that cannot walk, or pets behind, which, really, I can’t even imagine and having to go to a place with one bag only.”

Coburn says the priest she works with has told her the adults have gotten used to sirens going off but the kids will panic and hide.

She adds she still has some distant relatives in Ukraine and says they are safe.

Anyone who wants to make a donation can do so here.