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Barrie family prepares warm welcome for Ukrainian refugees this weekend

'I have a general philosophy that if you have an opportunity to share something of very low cost to yourself and of very great benefit to someone else, then you should find a way to do it,' says Russ Jeffery

A Barrie family is opening its arms  and their doors  to a family that was forced to flee from their home in Odessa, Ukraine after Russian troops invaded the country on Feb. 24. 

Russ Jeffery told BarrieToday the decision to host this family of four  including two children ages six and nine  was an easy one.

“We have room in the house,” he said simply, adding they have a suite at the top of their north-east Barrie home that the family can make their own.

"There's an obvious and pervasive desire on the community’s part to find a tangible way to help these people who have lost everything they have, through no fault of their own and in a manner that all of us can see and no one can truly relate to,"  Jeffery added. "I happen to have the opportunity to house some people for whom a little help will go a very long way but people have fallen all over themselves to support these families as soon as they see an opportunity to do so and I’m no different from that general population."

Jeffery said he spoke to his family about what he was hoping to do and they were immediately supportive of the idea, adding his children  who are aged five, nine and 11  are extremely excited about the fact that there will be other kids nearby. 

“They were really hoping the family that would come live with (us) would include children,” he said. “I have a general philosophy that if you have an opportunity to share something of very low cost to yourself and of very great benefit to someone else, then you should find a way to do it.”

This isn’t the first time his family has lent a helping hand to refugees coming to Canada, adding his father has been on the refugee committee at his church for many years. 

“It wasn’t a strange notion to me to get involved in helping folks out in the latest conflict," Jeffery said. 

Jeffery told BarrieToday he spent quite a bit of time trying to locate any resources that would allow him to make his goal of assisting refugees known. After limited success, he eventually came across an article about a volunteer-run website that works to help Ukrainians fleeing their country find temporary homes.

Despite the article citing potential risks of using a non-governmental site, he ultimately submitted his name and information. 

“I decided if that’s the site that’s actually linking people up, then that’s the one I want,” he said, adding it was only a few days before he received a response. “It’s come together rather quickly since then.”

The family he and his family will be hosting, already had a connection to Canada and Barrie.

“They knew another family that had emigrated some time ago to Canada from Ukraine… and were looking here,” Jeffery said. “They had already gotten their visas, work permits and bought a plane ticket for Easter Saturday.”

The family was able to escape on the first day of the Russian invasion from western Ukraine, he added.

“They were close to the border and far from the action... but that meant they could escape in the morning with a suitcase and the kids in the car,” Jeffery said, adding they drove to Italy where they have been staying with a relative, but they can't get jobs there.

"They do have this connection to Canada, so they applied for Canadian visas. The parents, who are in their early 30s, have very good English… so they will be much more set up here than in Italy in the short term," he added. 

The two children will have their work cut out for them learning a new language in a new country, Jeffery acknowledged, but he expects they will catch up quickly

“They’re really excited… and my kids are very excited that we’ve managed to connect with a family.”

In his conversation with the family in recent weeks, Jeffery told BarrieToday that although they’re happy to be coming to a safe place, they’re also very aware of the new challenges they will all be facing. 

“I think they know they’re taking a risk… and I’m not sure what family they’re leaving behind,” he said. “I think these people had to leave their pets behind. I can’t imagine it’s anything but bittersweet."


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About the Author: Nikki Cole

Nikki Cole has been a community issues reporter for BarrieToday since February, 2021
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