By Gerry Beltgens
Rotary Club of Ladysmith
The Rotary club of Ladysmith is holding a paper shredding fundraiser for Ukraine on April 2 at the student drop off location in front of the Ladysmith High School. It will start at 11 a.m. and go until 2 p.m.
Fifty per cent of funds raised will go to the Rotary International Disaster Response and Relief Fund, destined for the support of Ukrainians displaced and impacted by the war. The other 50 per cent will go to Disaster Aid Canada to support International Disaster Relief Projects, including direct support for Ukraine.
Over three million people are now refugees in the countries surrounding Ukraine, another million are internally displaced. Thousands of civilians have died and tens of thousands injured. There is no end in sight.
“I left Kyiv in the first hours of the war. My sister, her husband, her 3-month-old baby and a cat were in the car. When we reached the border, men were already not allowed to leave the country, so I went on with my sister and a little nephew. We were five days in the car, six days until we got to Vienna,” said Iryna Bushmina, Rotaract representative in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Rotarians may not be able to stop the war but we can help — we can provide access to clean water, food, shelter, medicine and comfort. Tens of thousands of Rotarians, Interact Youth Groups and Rotoractors around the world have mobilised to raise money and provide support on the ground. Rotary International has set up a special Disaster Response and Relief Fund and local Rotary District 5020 will match donations.
Contributions to the Disaster Response Fund received by April 30 qualify for use in support of the Ukrainian relief efforts. Rotary districts can apply for expedited disaster response grants to provide relief to refugees or other victims of the crisis, including items such as water, food, shelter, medicine and clothing.
On Saturday April 2, please help us support Ukraine by bringing your old tax papers, embarrassing love letters and all of the other disposable paper you never, ever want anyone to see. You can chose to stand and watch your papers get shredded or just drop them off and let us take care of it. You can even have us pick them up at your house or office if you want.