Back in July 2007, while backpacking across Europe, I was crossing the Polish boarder into Ukraine for my first time. I had just accepted a job as an English teacher in the Eastern city of Dnipro (actually, it was Dnipropetrov’sk at the time, but the good people at city council have since shortened the city’s name, and to this day I thank them). I spent half a year there, working, getting to know the people, exploring the beautiful countryside, and making good friends. I never dreamed that this country I came to love would be viciously bombarded by Russia, and that good friends would be torn from their families and become displaced by war.
(western Ukraine)
So when I received a call from Tamara at Kerr and Field Interiors in mid-September to support a young Ukrainian woman who had to flee from the war, I was thrilled. Yana didn’t have much of a choice when the Russian invasion began, she couldn’t stay. She was lucky to get out safely and make it to Canada, but she’s here in Toronto now with no family or friends from back home.
Tamara and her team had a bright idea to do a total make over of Yana’s basement apartment. And JDavis Painting was proud to provide the painting. You can catch the whole story on CityLine below
Slava Ukraine!
PS: This isn’t the first time we’ve done charity jobs for those in need. Check out my bio to hear a bit about the first one we ever did.
