Hi Friend,

I hope you and your family are well. Today's note is a different type of email, and I'm sharing this with you with a deep sense of love and care. The unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine has impacted the world, and personally affected our family. The humanitarian disaster unfolding is tragic, and this note will hopefully shed light on what it means to me, and for those of you who feel driven to help, provide some effective ways to support those impacted by the war.

Although I was born in Edmonton, my grandparents are from Ukraine and we have extended family there. I was blessed to have had the opportunity to travel to Ukraine in 2002 on a high school trip, in 2009 for 7 weeks with Patrick, and in 2013, performing in several cities with my Edmonton-based Ukrainian dance group. These trips opened my eyes to the culturally-rich, modern, and beautiful country that Ukraine is, and allowed me to spend time with my family who calls it home. Watching what is unfolding is extremely difficult; to see the country being destroyed and its innocent people killed. Today, some of my family is sheltering in basements, while others have made it to the Polish border. We have been successful in sending funds directly to them, but millions of others are still in need.

There is a lot of information out there regarding the situation as well as the best ways to help, and I am doing my best to sort through it and relay the most accurate information.

For those who want to help:

Please donate monetarily, if you can, to help the millions of families who have been displaced from their homes. Coordinated efforts led by organizations already established in Ukraine are making the most impact.

The Canada Ukraine Foundation is still one of the best places to donate. Monetary donations rather than physical packages are the best right now. There is not enough manpower to sort through all the physical donations at this time. The foundation is a registered Canadian charity and you will get a tax receipt for your contribution.

More info: https://www.cufoundation.ca/