Two families from Ukraine are grateful and safe to be in Port Hope, but it’s not home.
The families arrived at the home of Tom VanBuren and his wife Kelly in Port Hope shortly after 9 p.m. on Monday, April 11, 2022.
The couples are, Hannah who is seven months pregnant, her husband and their child a child who is almost five-years-old along with their friends, Tom, his wife and and their four-year-old.
After a long, long journey from Lyon, France dealing with a number of issues including immigration and being up more they 24-hours straight they finally arrived at the home of the VanBuren’s.
Tom, his wife and the couples child will be staying at the VanBuren’s. Hannah and her family will be staying at another home in Port Hope.
A close friend of Kelly VanBuren’s in Toronto, had a friend that knew the couples.
“We got talking about taking in people and I said I’d love too, to be able to help.”
At first VanBuren thought it would be just two couples, but when she found out about the children, “I said I didn’t care. I wanted to help.”
Today’s Northumberland spoke to Hannah for a short period of time before they all settled in for a good nights sleep she said all four are friends and came from Odessa, Ukraine.
They left on February 26 which was the first day of the war.
“From (February) 26, to 11 April we are on the road and go from one country to other, to other trying to find a place.”
Raising a young family with another child on the way, Hannah said it was very hard to leave.
“It was hard to leave your home. You have everything. All your life you try and earn money, to buy the car, to buy your home, house, your family, your job – you just leave everything and go with two bags or one bag.”
Hannah said you’re scared and in shock.
“You don’t understand why people do that,” referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
“We still don’t understand why it’s going on.”
When the four friends left Odessa it had been damaged, but not heavily like other major cities which are 80% obliterated.
“But we are afraid of that – because we don’t want to see people die. It’s hard for children to see that – it’s hard for us and I’m also pregnant and I don’t want to give birth in that situation.”
Struggling for words, it was hard for Hannah to explain how she felt to be in Canada, in Ontario and in Port Hope.
“It’s a nice place. I know that Canada is a good country.”
Saying her husband always wanted to come to visit Canada, Hannah struggled for words, but they didn’t want to come here in this situation.
“We are not sure if we have place to go back so that’s why we are here. We are trying to do our best for our children and our future life. In spite of that, it is very hard to be here – but we try.”
VanBuren said she couldn’t imagine what the four friends and their children had been through.
“I just want to get their feet back on the ground and try and provide a nice home for them for now.”
For now, they are obviously exhausted, but she said they have jobs waiting for them through a friend of VanBurens.
The local food bank and the Port Hope Health Clinic along with MPP Picinni’s office.
“Everybody has offered to help.”
“But it’s heartbreaking because they are my kids ages. I just want to be able to help them.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
