A number of Kelowna groups took to the island’s stage in Kelowna’s Waterfront Park on Saturday to help raise money for Ukraine.
Denis Storozhuk of Kelowna founded Kelowna Stands With Ukraine in February when Russia invaded his home country, and the organization has since raised more than $ 300,000 to provide supplies for Ukrainian troops.
Saturday’s concert for Ukraine continued these fundraising efforts, with 11 local bands taking the stage throughout the afternoon.
The Kelowna City concert band started the festivities at noon with the national anthems of Canada and Ukraine, and a wide variety of music will last until 21:00
“The weather is cooperating, so I hope it will be a great event,” Storozhuk said on Saturday. “We have people and children running through the crowd with donation boxes, and we also have a lot of goods, of course. We have T-shirts, we have hats … various souvenirs from Ukraine … everything available through donations, a huge assortment. Everyone is welcome. ”
In addition to supplying Ukraine with medical supplies and tactical equipment such as body armor, Kelowna Stands With Ukraine also helps support Ukrainian refugees who have recently arrived in Okanagan, both financially and through mentoring, English lessons and helps them find work. .
Storozhuk says about 40 families have already arrived in the region from Ukraine, and another 100 are expected to arrive next month.
Many of those Ukrainians attended the concert on Saturday, including 27-year-old Elena Radchenko and 32-year-old Olga Strekozova. Radchenko is from Kyiv and Strekozova is from Zaporozhye, about 200 kilometers northwest of Mariupol.
Radchenko left home on March 25, about a month after the war, and she toured a number of countries before finally landing in Kelowna with Strekozova 11 days ago.
Strekozova said she never planned to leave her home in Kyiv until a house just one kilometer away was destroyed by a Russian missile.
“It’s very sad, the first days were very emotional for us,” Strekozova said. “The war is in our country, and our hearts and souls are there … it’s hard to come to a new country and start from scratch.”
Strekozova and Radchenko said they enjoyed their first few weeks in Kelowna, and Kelowna Stands With Ukraine helped them settle down.
“We had a good experience here, some amazing people met us and gave us everything we need,” said Strekozova. “We are happy to be here.”
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