New Westminster artists joined forces with their colleagues from around Metro Vancouver to help the people of Ukraine – and the result was a resounding success.
An Artists for Ukraine fundraiser was held Saturday, March 26 at Holy Eucharist Cathedral, the Ukrainian Catholic church in uptown New West. It's part of an ongoing fundraising effort by the church to help the Ukrainian people in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Members of the New West Artists group, together with artists from around the Lower Mainland, gathered to sell their artwork – including paintings, photography, quilting, textiles and more – with 100% of the sales going to the church's Help Us Help Ukraine fund.
The result? Hundreds of visitors, and $2,416 in donations from the art sales alone.
"The generosity of donations, the volunteer time and the incredible artwork, each generously gifted from the artists – this gives me such a lovely feeling of hope and renewal of my faith in humanity at such a difficult time in our world," said Janet Kvammen of the New West Artists group in an email to the Record. "Truly amazing! We have such wonderful, supportive people in our community."
Robbin Sheriland, president of New West Artists, shared her gratitude for all the partners who made the event a success.
"A big thank you to all the artists, helpers, supporters and generous donors. With your help we raised $2,416 for Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, New Westminster. We could not do it without you," she wrote.
The art show was held in conjunction with a Perogies for Peace takeout dinner, featuring perogies, sausage, borscht and cabbage rolls.
How to help the people of Ukraine in New Westminster
Holy Eucharist has an ongoing fundraising campaign that it's calling Help Us Help Ukraine. Money raised will go towards:
- purchasing and delivering medical supplies which are not possible to buy in/around Ukraine;
- helping volunteers that are going to Ukraine from the Lower Mainland; and
- finding and covering costs of housing and child care for women and children who fled the war-afflicted Ukraine and are able to get to Vancouver.
There are three ways to donate to the fund:
- Send e-transfers to cathedral.nwe@gmail.com
- Donate via Facebook
- Mail a cheque payable to Holy Eucharist Cathedral to 501 Fourth Ave., New Westminster, BC, V3L 1P3
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca.
