Independent Fundraisers

Below is the list of independent fundraisers created in support of our initiatives.

“Heart Of Ukraine” by Christopher Griffin Silent Auction

Help Us Help is excited to announce an upcoming online silent auction “Heart of Ukraine” which will be held on Thursday, June 29th 2023.

The “Heart of Ukraine” fundraiser was created in support of Help Us Help Summer Camp 2023.

Artist Christopher Griffin has generously donated his oil painting, “Heart of Ukraine”, which was inspired by his travels to western Ukraine.

Today, from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (EST) you will have the opportunity to bid on this unique and modern oil painting with a focus on Ukrainian harvesting culture.

Follow the link in below view the auction and make your bid today, on June 29, 2023!

Saint Javelin

Saint Javelin is an independent fundraising campaign started by Christian Borys, a long-time Help Us Help volunteer.

Help Us Help is so honored to have received the first installment of Saint Javelin‘s generous donation on March 7, 2022! We could not be more proud to see all that Christian has accomplished in the past two weeks through this independent fundraiser. We would like to give a huge thank you to all the Saint Javelin volunteers who have been working day and night to ensure the production and delivery of your Saint Javelin merch as well as to help spread awareness of Help Us Help and the atrocities of the war. We are also grateful for the talented artists who are spreading awareness through their art and designs.

From sale profits, Saint Javelin has raised a significant amount in support of Help Us Help’s efforts to relocate beneficiaries of our programs and to provide medical and humanitarian assistance to victims of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

A huge thank you to Christian, his volunteers, the artists, and everyone who has bought merchandise from Saint Javelin. It is heartwarming to see how many community members have come together in an incredible show of solidarity for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

Click the link below to buy Saint Javelin merch.

Vovkulakhy - Sleeping Bag Fundraiser

Russian forces are now trying to freeze Ukrainians into surrendering. We know they'll fail. But without power and heating, nights are getting longer - and colder.

Please join this Vovkulaky fundraiser in support of Help Us Help Charity. All funds raised will go towards the BUNDLE UP Ukraine initiative, which provides new sleeping bags for Ukrainians left without power or heat in Eastern Ukraine.

Vovkulaky are an international fraternity of Ukrainian scout leaders and members of the Plast Ukrainian Scouting organization, who trace their roots back to the early 1950s. Since the Vovkulaky motto is One for All, All for One, they continue to dedicate themselves to the enrichment of lives both within, and beyond, the borders of Ukraine. As with many of us, they are horrified by the atrocities and inhumane actions of Russia against the people of Ukraine. Vovkulaky have launched multiple fundraisers designed to save as many lives as they can in Ukraine - the latest of which is this BUNDLE UP Ukraine initiative.

Please give what you can. Even the smallest donation will help!

Laurier Helps Ukraine - Fundraising Concert

Laurier Helps Ukraine hosted a concert on November 20th, 2022 in support of Help Us Help and other Ukrainian organizations helping Ukraine.

The concert showcased various nationally renowned and award-winning classical and jazz artists. Groups like the Gryphon Trio and the Penderecki String Quartet performed at the event.
In addition to the concert, there was a silent auction which featured prizes such as Music Lessons, Dining Experiences, plus much more.

All proceeds from the concert will be donated to Help Us Help, St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Church Ambulance Drive and other initiatives across KW supporting Ukraine and Ukrainians overcoming war.

STEPPE UP for Ukraine

Join Help Us Help volunteers on July 23, 2022 for a fundraising cycling event you won’t want to miss. Participate in a scenic, *self-guided* tour of the Niagara region. Starting with a brief ceremony and blessing at St. Mary's Ukrainian Church in Niagara Falls, stopping by notable Ukrainian sites along the way, and ending the loop with some nourishing homemade Ukrainian food!

To join the team, click the link below!

High Tea and Vinok Workshop

On June 26, 2022, Defina Wood Fired will be hosting a VINOK (head wreath) Workshop over High Tea

Tickets are $85 and include the following:

• • High Tea with a light lunch

• 1 Cocktail Beverage (alcoholic)

• A Vinok Workshop by @abaczynskyj using fresh flowers with your completed wreath to take home

  Extras:

• Silent Auction

• Fashion photo shot with @blairannembrace

• Hand-illustrated portrait sketch

Tickets can be purchased by emailing: hello@Hostwithheart.ca

Vesuvius Ensemble - Concert for Ukraine

The Vesuvius Ensemble has organized a Benefit Concert in support of Help Us Help and their humanitarian aid for children in Ukraine.

Francesco Pellegrino, Lucas Harris, Romina Di Gasbarro, and Louis Simão will be joined by: Nastasia Y, Ori Shalva, Tamae Illana, and Sing with Ukraine (BLISK, Kalendar, Korinya, Polky).

To purchase tickets, click the link below!

Old Sod Pub

Since the war has started, The Old Sod Pub located in Toronto, has hosted two pub nights which included live music, specialty drinks and Ukrainian clothing vendors! To date, they have raised a total of $8565.

This Thursday, April 28 they will be auctioning off the painting shown below by local Kingsway artist Stephen Waisberg. The Opening bid has started at $500. They will also have live Ukrainian music, “Kyiv Cocktails” & “Molotov Mules”, merchandise vendors from Saint Javelin and The Sunflower Initiative and more!

All proceeds will be going to Help Us Help.

Ayla Dmyterko: 𝘝𝘺𝘴𝘩𝘺𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘪 𝘒𝘢𝘻𝘬𝘺

 Opening Saturday, April 30, with a public reception from 3-5 PM, is an exhibition by Ukrainian-Canadian artist Ayla Dmyterko. Reactivating and re-embodying Ukrainian cultural memory, Dmyterko’s photographic and moving image works, Future Projections (2018), Peasants Under Glass (2020) and Solastalgic Soliloquy (2020-22) discursively respond to historical injustices to create sites of transformation.

A portion of proceeds will be going towards Help Us Help! To learn more about this exhibition, click the link below.

Melos Folk Ensemble - Maylanka

The Melos Folk Ensemble will be hosting a “Maylanka” on Friday, May 27 at Fort Gibraltar in Winnipeg, Manitoba! The event will include a cocktail hour, dinner, zabava (dance), and midnight show. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Help Us Help.

To purchase tickets, contact Christine Preachuk at melosfolkensemble06@gmail.com

Our Home Refillery

Our Home Refillery, a sustainable Eco Shop based out of Toronto has launched a special edition candle, all proceeds going towards Help Us Help. The floral adorned tops are a dedication to the Ukrainian wreath. Their “Seed of Hope” soy wax wooden wick candles are naturally scented with chamomile and citrus essential oils.

To purchase the candle, click the link below!

Janina Soup Company

Janina Soup Company, based in Burlington, Ontario, is a soup company created by two talented chefs. All proceeds from the sale of “Ukrainian Chicken and Vegetable Soup” purchased in the week of April 11, 2022 were donated to Help Us Help!

To learn more about their company, click the button below.

Flower Crown Bar

Flowers Canada Ontario will be hosting a flower crown ____ at the One of a Kind Show at the Enercare Centre in downtown Toronto From March 30 - April 3rd! Flowers Canada Ontario will teach you how to make your own vinok for FREE, and you will be able to take them home!

All proceeds will go towards Help Us Help. To buy tickets to the One of a Kind Show, click the button below.

Laurier Helps Ukraine

Students at Wilfred Laurier University have created an event titled “Laurier Helps Ukraine - Sweepstakes Event”. This is a raffle fundraiser, where the students will be selling $5 tickets, which grants individuals one entry into our prize pool, ticket sales are unlimited.

They have some exciting prizes that include: Air Pods Pro, $100 facial to Anita's Spa, $120 facial to Jolanta's Spa, 3 day passes to Grand River Rocks + gear rentals, among many others!

To learn more about the event and how to enter, click the button below.

Glory To Ukraine

Glory to Ukraine (@glorytoukrainestore) is a Toronto-based company that has launched a clothing store in support of Ukraine.

All proceeds will be going towards Help Us Help! To take a look at their store, click the link below!

Pysanky for Ukraine

Ukrainian Arts TO (@ukrainianartsto) is hosting pysanky workshops on April 9th and 10th for the GTA region! Each ticket includes:

• 2 eggs and everything needed to decorate your eggs (beeswax, dyes, wax dotting tool, instructions).

• a long-lasting memory (or a nostalgic throwback).

To purchase tickets, click the link below.

Gourmae Cupcakes

Gourmae (@gourmae1) is selling homemade cupcakes to support humanitarian aid missions for Ukraine.

All proceeds will be going towards Help Us Help! To order some cupcakes, visit their Instagram profile by clicking the button below!

Rosewood Winery

Rosewood Winery (@rosewoodwine) will be hosting a pysanky workshop April 3 and April 10th! The workshop will include:

• 3 eggs and everything needed to decorate your eggs (beeswax, dyes, wax dotting tool and instructions)

• tasting flight of 3 wines

• traditional Ukrainian Easter brunch snacks prepared by @canoeoysters

To learn more about Rosewood Winery and their fundraiser visit their instagram or their webpage by clicking the button below!

Areta With Love

Until March 17th, 100% of proceeds from @aretawithlove and @ouimekids will be donated to Help Us Help!
The money will be used to purchase medi packs, other essentials and used for immediate relief in Ukraine. As of March 24, 2022, Areta was able to purchase 6 IFAK kits for a total of $938.70. We would like to thank Areta for her incredible fundraiser!

To learn more, visit her website by clicking the button below.

Zvelle

Zvelle (@iamzvelle) is a shoes and accessories boutique located in Yorkville, Toronto! From March 24th-26th, they donated all profits from online and in-store sales to Help Us Help. They raised a total of $4,000!

Click the button below to view their online store.

SideKnit

Until the end of April, Side Knit (u/sideknit_) will be donating 15% of all proceeds to Help Us Help! Side Knit is a small business that sells crochet bucket hats and beanies.

To view their shop, click the button below!

Queen’s University Ukrainian Students’ Association

QUUSA (@queensukrainianclub) was selling handmade bracelets at Queen’s University on Wednesday, March 23, 2022!

All proceeds made have been donated to Help Us Help! To learn more about their initiative, click the button below!

David Shanklin

David Shanklin (@shanklin_the_painter) has created an online store, selling handmade prints and t-shirts.

All proceeds through sales will be donated to Help Us Help. To learn more, or to purchase items, click the button below!

Ukie Design - Lidia Slota

Lidia Slota - founder of Ukie Design (@ukiedesign) has brought together the Ukrainian community in an incredible raffle fundraiser. You have the chance to win a bundle of prizes donated by Ukrainian-Canadian small business’, totaling to over $3000! Each $10 donated will equal to one raffle ticket and one entry. The more you donate - the more chances you have to win - the more you help Ukraine. Lidia will graciously be donating 100% of the proceeds to Help Us Help.

To learn more on how to enter, and to view the prizes, please visit Lidia’s Just Giving page below.

Cheese Boutique

Cheese Boutique will be hosting a food truck take-over event on March 26/27 at 6 Ripley Ave in Toronto, Ontario. Funds raised will be donated towards Help Us Help’s First Responder Medical Support initiative, and Unite With Ukraine’s “Supporting Ukraine’s Defenders”. The menu will offer simple, yet delicious homemade Ukrainian food!

To learn more about this event, click the link below!

Wildwood Designs and Milling

Wildwood Designs and Milling has created a raffle for a beautiful handcrafted black walnut serving/display board with Ukrainian embroidery & emblem. This board was crafted with love, an over 60+ hours devoted to creating this piece of art.

One ticket costs $5 and all proceeds will be donated to Help Us Help. To enter, check out their Go Fund Me page by clicking the link below!

“With Ukraine” Fundraising Concert

Local Toronto bands and artists are organizing a fundraising concert in support of Ukraine. The Fundraising concert will take place on March 11, 2022 in the Opera House at 7:00pm.

The lineup features Ukrainian and Eastern European groups such as Polky, BLISK, Nastasia Y, and Korinya and those with strong ties to Ukraine (Moskitto Bar, Dumai Dunai, Lemon Bucket Orkestra Brass), including Toronto-based artists (Catchfiyah, Ventanas, Basset, Rudy Ray), all coming together to support the cause.

All ticket proceeds will be going to Help Us Help. To learn more, or purchase tickets, visit the website below.

Mark Kalimin

Mark is selling “#standwithukraine” and other vinyl decal packages. 100% of sale proceeds will be donated to two Canadian registered charities: Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Canada Ukraine Foundation and Help us Help in support of humanitarian aid relief efforts for those affected by Russia’s war on and in Ukraine.

To purchase Mark’s vinyl decals, click the link below.

Shangri-La - Carigar Music

The Canadian music group Carigar has released a song titled “Shangri-La” in support Help Us Help and their efforts in aiding the people of Ukraine. The lead vocalist, Roman Petryga, is a second-generation Ukrainian and is an active member of the Ukrainian community. Carigar will be donating all proceeds to Help Us Help.

To listen to the song, click the link below!

Swimming For Peace - Delphine Adenot Owusu

Delphine Adenot Owusu has pledged to swim every day for one month in Lake Ontario! Below, you can see her mission statement:

“Because I am a concerned European living in Canada, because I believe in Europe and European Union, because I share the values of Human Dignity, Freedom, Democracy, Equality, Rule of Law and Human Rights; I will swim every day for one month in Lake Ontario for peace in Ukraine. Lake Ontario is still around 0C (32F) and I will swim with no wetsuit! Support me in going out of my comfort zone, so together we can Stand with Ukraine. I will post every day time and location of the following day's swim. Feel free to join if you want to!”

To support Delphine and keep track of her process, click the link below!

Ukrainian Chicken - Tanya Mykytiuk

Tanya Mikitiuk (@ukrainianchicken) is a talented pysanky artist that has created a fundraising raffle. If you donate to Help Us Help or two other charities on the list, you will be entered in a draw to win a hand-made pysanka! To learn more on how to enter the raffle, view her Facebook page by clicking the link below.

Rebecca Wood - Auction for Ukraine

Rebecca Wood (@rebecca_wood) is a multi-disciplinary artist exploring relationships in the time of Hyperobjects. She has put up an oil painting up for auction titled “Both Sides Now”, depicting Niagara Falls as seen from Canada. The painting sold for a total of $600! All proceeds will be going towards Help Us Help and our initiatives during this war.

Vug and Chisel

This handmade jewelry store (@vugnchisel) created a raffle for one of her hand-made necklaces. The auction ended on March 7, 2022, and the winners have been contacted. To view more of Vug and Chisel’s work, visit their Etsy page by clicking the link below!

Cosy Posy Yarn Co.

Cosy Posy Yarn Co. is a company founded by Antonella, that sells hand-dyed yarn. They created an independent raffle fundraiser, offering a total of 5 different prizes. Antonella has pledged to donate 50% of the proceeds to Help Us Help, the other 50% will be going to Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crises Appeal. The fundraiser has officially ended on March 6, 2022. Thank you to Antonella and everyone who has donated!