Personal winnings used to help displaced Ukrainian family

Megan Suitor

Long time Redwater resident Barry Stachniak chose the monthly dinner at the Pioneer Club to present a young mother and her family with a generous donation. Almost exactly one year after Stachniak had won the 50/50 draw at a fundraiser at the Pioneer Club, he presented those winnings to Olena Shevchenko, her mother Alina and her son Hlib.

“I’ve never won anything in my life,” shared Stachniak. “For a whole year, it was really eating at me about this money; I didn’t spend any of it.”

Shevchenko and her family were forced from their homes in Ukraine when the war started and they chose to make Redwater their home. Her husband has continued to live in Ukraine, but they are working to get the documents filed for him to join them in Canada.

“I’m Ukrainian myself, and I really felt that they deserved to have the money that I won,” explained Stachniak.

The catalyst for the donation of the money happened when Barry saw Olena at The Hairport for a pedicure, where she’s been working as a nail technician.

“We started talking, and he found out that I was expecting my husband from Ukraine, and we would need furniture to move into an apartment,” shared Shevchenko. “A few days later, he said that he had money that he wanted to give us officially. I had no idea that it was his personal money and not from a relief fund.”

The young family is still looking for an apartment before they will be able to accept any donations of furniture, but they hope to be able to get fully settled into Redwater once Olena’s husband is able to arrive.

“I am very grateful to Barry and everyone who has helped us,” said Shevchenko. “There are very kind and good people here.”