Delivering furniture and hope to Ukrainian refugees in Steinbach

Some Ukrainian refugees settling in Steinbach received much needed furniture this past week, thanks to all the donations collected during the past few months. 

Landon Roberts with the Steinbach Pistons jumped at the opportunity to help deliver the furniture, and a few of his teammates joined him. 

“We got about five guys together and we went to the Southland Church they have a little spot in the back there where they have a bunch of furniture and stuff that's been donated in the storage area back there,” he says. “We loaded it up and took it across town to a couple of places.” 

Roberts says it was great to meet the families and welcome them to our community. 

“Everyone was very, very appreciative and happy to receive all those things,” he says. “And I think it was just as good to see the guys seeing that it does make a big difference. I know for a lot of them, I don't think they really knew what they were getting into at first. I've actually done a little bit of it myself in Brandon already, that's why I definitely signed up right away when I saw (the opportunity). I knew it was important and I think it was great because the other guys got to see that as well. And it was a good time.”

Left to right: Warren Clark, Brett Kaiser, Landon Roberts, Josh Nelson, and Davin Griffin in the back of a truck they loaded with donated furniture for Ukrainian refugees settling in Steinbach. (Photo submitted)

Roberts says it is important that everyone in the community, including the Pistons, does their part to help those who need it. 

“I've told many people that I haven't really been a part of a team that's this community driven and it's definitely something super special,” he says. “Once you're out in the community and you're doing little things like this, you can just see how much people appreciate it.” 

Roberts says it is great to see people donate important household items to help these families get settled into a new life. 

More Ukrainian families are arriving this month and donations are still needed. One of the families arrives this week with 10 children. They will be settling into a home in the Mitchell area.

If you would like to donate clothes, furniture or household items to be given to Ukrainian families or those hosting Ukrainian families, you can do so by bringing donations to marked storage units in the Southland Church parking lot on Tuesday, December 6th, 2022, from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. Please use west entrance, closest to Bush Farm Road – watch for signs.

Roberts says these families used to have everything they needed. Now they arrive in a new country with only a couple of suitcases, he says they are obviously thankful for all the help they receive.

Manitoba has a large Ukrainian community already and Roberts says it is great to see everyone doing what they can to help the newcomers feel welcome.