Since December 2022 Fenwick United Church has been actively involved in helping newly arrived Ukrainian families settle into their new life in Canada. We have worked collaboratively with Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Niagara Branch, as well as other local churches - Fonthill United Church, Pelham Community Church, Wesley United Church, and Central United Church.

This has included finding apartments, collecting and delivering furniture and household items, helping to find doctors and dentists, schools for children, advice and help with navigating financial institutions, financial support, as well as emotional support by giving them a community of new friends where they are always welcome.  So far we have been involved in helping, to various extent, eight Ukrainian families.

If you would like to join us in this ministry, please contact us.  Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated!

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Roman, Mariana, Mark and Mia

We met them in December of 2022, and since then they have made great progress - both Roman and Mariana are working, the children are in school and doing very well, and they have moved into a comfortable apartment. Mariana bakes the most amazing cakes, and we have been so lucky to enjoy them once a month on our Birthday Sundays. 

UPDATE:  as of August 2024 Roman and Mariana with their family have moved to Pittsburgh, PA to be closer to other family. We wish them all the best in this new step in their journey.

Serhii, Olga, Ilarion and Teodore

Even though their stay in Canada was not long - they found life in Canada very expensive and difficult and have since moved to Spain, we made sure that their stay here was as comfortable as it could be. Teodore was born in Canada, and some day may come back to the country of his birth. Both children were baptized at Fenwick United. We wish them all the best in their new life in Spain.

Since our first two families, we have met many other wonderful Ukrainians - Irina and her four children who are with us every Sunday.  Svitlana and her daughter who is a gifted piano student and for whom we managed to find a piano.  Katya and Oleg and their baby.  Nadiia and her family arrived just a month ago in March 2024 and for whom we helped find and deliver furniture.  Oksana, Maria and Anna and their families who are in need of help with their new business venture.  Our lives have been enriched by their presence, and we hope that we have been able to make at least a small difference in their new lives in Canada.

We hope to hear her play in our church soon.

A wonderful time was had by all, and the vareniki were delicious. We hope to make another batch in not too far a future. Will you join us?

We helped furnish another apartment for a newly arrived Ukrainian family. A heartfelt "thank you" to all who donated furniture, and to our Three Musketeers - Gary Chambers, Howard Grady and Ronnie The Elf for driving, lifting, moving, getting on each other's nerves and eventually delivering the furniture from where it was to where it needed to go! And all that in spite of the weather trying to discourage us every step of the way.