Local Immigration Partnership in Portage la Prairie combined its efforts together with Real Food in a fundraising drive for displaced Ukrainians looking to make our city their home. The giving spirit of Portagers came through once again
Program Coordinator Mitch Tilk says the effort was completed and they took in much more than they expected.
"We partnered up with CBYF, another program that works through PCRC (that's the Community Building Youth Futures Program), and Real Food which is located on River Road," says Tilk. "We did a kind of joint paid-by-donation perogy fundraiser where people could come in and pay whatever they felt like paying for the perogies."
He notes Real Food owner Tim Arendse said there was plenty of support and many people contributed much more than what the perogies were actually valued.
"We were very impressed with the amount that we got," adds Tilk. "It was $1,806.50 and that'll all be going toward displaced Ukrainians who are settling in Portage la Prairie."
Tilk explains part of the effort included people at the mall parking lot who engaged in some of the sales.
"There's lots of interest," continues Tilk. "Who doesn't like homemade perogies?"
He adds they expected only a few hundred dollars, with no real goal in mind.
"We ended up with over $1,800," notes Tilk. "There's been a lot of interest in our community to help people out. So, we're actually just kind of figuring out right now, with the Portage Learning and Literacy Centre and with Blair Hordeski, who's been sort of the main go-to person for a lot of the Ukrainian refugees, where is the best place to use that money."
He says a job fair for Ukrainians took place in Winnipeg on Thursday at the hotel where most Ukrainians are staying as they find a permanent home. Tilk notes some employers from Portage will be there to encourage Ukrainians to make our city their home.