From perogies to free housing, here's how these Islanders are stepping up to support Ukrainians

Two Prince Edward Islanders are using their resources and skills to show support for Ukrainians: one is making thousands ofperogieswhile the other is offeringfree accommodation to those fleeing the war-torn country.

Cornwall resident Lori Jaworski is holding what she calls a "Perogies for Ukraine" fundraiser this Saturday at her regular Charlottetown Farmers' Market stall, and is offering six potato-filled dumplingsin exchange for a donation.

"We are going to meet with some Ukrainian people at the end of the day and decide where the money is going to go," Jaworski said.

Jaworski, who said her family migrated from Poland, saidshe understands the trauma of fleeing fromwar. She said her great-great-grandmother was killedin front of her children by Nazi soldiers during the Second World War.

"I grew up hearing stories of my family fleeing Poland and the sadness that came with the generational trauma," she said.

It's so disturbing in this day and age, after all that we've learned in the last at least hundredyears, that this can still happen.- Lori Jaworski

She said her fundraiser also honours her ancestors, as well as her parents, who both died while she was growing up.

"I know that if they were alive today, they would say, 'Lori-Anne, you get your butt in that kitchen and make perogies and give them away and you hope to raise some money,'" she said.

Jaworski hopes to have 5,000 perogies ready for Saturday.

"While I've been making perogies the last few days, I have been watching the news, snippets here and there, and it just motivates me to just try to do what I can," she said.

"It's so disturbing in this day and age, after all that we've learned in the last at least hundredyears, that this can still happen."

Roughly two million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded the country Feb. 24. Last week, federalImmigration Minister Sean Fraser said Canada was preparing to accept an "unlimited number" of Ukrainianswho wanted to leave.

Free housing proposalfor refugees

Jaworskiis hopingother Islanders canfind their ownways of showing support.

"I hope that people are helping in any way that they can," she said. "I know it's a struggle right now between COVID, the war and everything."

Charlottetown developer Tim Banks is offering free rent for a year inhis apartment buildings to Ukrainian refugees heading to P.E.I.

"One of the things when you you're kicked out of your country,you don't have a lot, so you have to start over," said Banks, chief executive officerof Pan American Properties.

Banks said he was inspired to help after seeing lawyers with the StewartMcKelvey law firm offering pro bono services for Ukrainians fleeing to Nova Scotia.

"I thoughtmaybe it's time for the rest of the business community to start stepping up," he said.

"We're in the apartment business and although we don't have a great number of vacancies, we'll find them. They will come up."

Banks has two apartments available now and will make more available as needed.

He hopes his proposal inspires other businesses to find ways to help.

"I think the onus is on all of us as not only businesspeoplebut Islanders and Canadians to step up and do whatever we can do," he said.

"We have it pretty good here in Canada, and although we complain a lot, whine a lot,sometimes you have to step back in life and see what you can do."