'The least I can do': This Hamilton man is helping to charter supplies to Ukrainians in need
CBC
1,735.
That's how many boxes of donations Stefan Sobolewski has been responsible for sending off to Ukraine. And it's all done by cargo jets from the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.
Sobolewski, a Hamilton-based paralegal by day and humanitarian by night, got the idea after his employment at Cargojet.
"It was the calling of my heart to help out my fellow Ukrainian people in this very difficult time they are living through. I have Ukrainian roots and this is the least that I can do here to help," he said.
After speaking with the air operations manager at the airport in Mount Hope, just outside of the city, senior officials at Cargojet gave the green light to proceed with a Ukrainian humanitarian charter flight.
But in order to organize and sort what was going out on the jets, Sobolewski needed to secure a space — at least 1,000 square feet of it.
Since he's also an employee at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, he set up a meeting with CEO David Rohrer, who was quick to lend a hand.
The support he received from Cargojet and the museum was a "positive, big help," he said.
The team dispatched three chartered deliveries in March. A fourth is expected to go out this Saturday and another on April 30, Sobolewski says.
Originally, they were hoping for the planes to go every Saturday, but are now leaving to Ukraine once every two weeks or so.
"We want to focus more on certain medical supplies and hygiene and non-perishable foods," he said, as the reason to slow down the pace of deliveries.
Sobolewski's efforts come as individuals and organizations in Hamilton are supporting Ukraine in various ways.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress is hosting a fundraiser at the Westdale Theatre Thursday evening. Proceeds from the event will go to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, which will support their humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
Attendees will be able to listen to Ukrainian music and view an exhibition on Ukrainian history in Hamilton.
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