Quebec helping send desperately needed aid to Ukraine

"Improve lives for all the Ukrainians," says Marta Zybko, from Montreal's Ukrainian Church of St-Michael's, on the funding announced by Quebec to help assist the delivery of aid and supplies to the war-torn country. Felisha Adam reports.

By Felisha Adam

Posted April 8, 2022 10:16 am.

Last Updated April 8, 2022 10:20 am.

“I hope and I’m sure it’s going to help a lot,” says Nadine Girault, Quebec Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, as the provincial government announced $100,000 in funding Thursday that will go directly to help assist with the logistics of getting aid to Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

“I am really proud of what happened today,” says Marta Zybko, a volunteer at Montreal’s Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. Michael’s. “It took a couple of weeks of discussions and I am really so happy of the outcome – and of the seal of approval by our provincial government.”

St. Michael’s is one of the many Ukrainian churches in Montreal that have been the hub for donations being sent to help those in need amid the Russian invasion. The funding is something the volunteers there say will help them further.

“It will let us ship about five… truckloads of five air shipments with the medical supplies and some food for soldiers and civilians,” says Hanna Tatsenko, a volunteer at St. Michael’s Church.

The church had previously voiced the challenge they face with the logistics of getting aid overseas to those in need, amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“We’re not Red Cross, we’re not medics. We are complementary to what the other organizations are doing, we dedicate 100% of our time and of all the money into the operation, there’s no administrative fees,” explained Zybko.

Minister Girault adding that it was essential for Quebec to support the initiative. “It’s a horror what’s going on there. It’s absolutely terrible. There is no reason why something like that should happen in 2022, it’s absolutely unbearable.”