A worthwhile way to shop for Mother’s Day

HUNDREDS of second-hand items and a smorgasbord of Ukrainian foods will be on offer this Saturday, May 13 on Pakington Street, providing plenty of Mother’s Day gift options for passers-by.

The Ukrainian Women’s Association of Geelong, based out of its Ukrainian Community Hall on 57 Pakington Street, will host its second Mama’s Market tomorrow after last year’s massive success.

“We’re just so excited to be holding this event again and to welcome the residents of Geelong back after the success of last year,” Ukrainian Women’s Association of Geelong president Melissa Horpinitch-Musyt said.

“People didn’t want to go home last year, they were still walking around when we were getting ready to close up, but the constant feedback we received was about the incredible atmosphere we were able to create.”

The association was blown away during its inaugural market in 2022, raising more than $30,000 for a second-hand X-ray machine sent to a Children’s Hospital in the war-torn country.

Ukrainian food, a silent auction, bric-a-brac, Ukrainian goods, and general market items will all be up for grabs at a discounted price from 10am to 3.00pm inside the community group’s main hall, with all proceeds to go towards Ukrainians in Geelong’s sister organisation in the Zaporizhzhia region.

One of the group’s Ukrainian refugees, Olena Chernonok, will have mixed feelings about Mother’s Day this Sunday, after fleeing from her home country last year and having to leave her family behind.

Struggling recently with homesickness, Ms Chernonok remains in daily contact with her family in Kyiv, as the city eundures daily bombings.

Ms Chernonok found a second family at Ukrainians in Geelong when she joined last year, and says participating in this Saturday’s event will bring her a lot of joy knowing she is making other families happier on Mother’s Day weekend.

“It’s really exciting,” she said.

“I will be in the kitchen preparing Varenyky (dumplings) and other Ukrainian foods with my adoptive Australian family and I’m looking forward to taking part in the Market this year.

“It’s definitely going to be hard this Mother’s Day for me knowing that my family is still in Ukraine, but I’m just grateful to be surrounded by this community here in Geelong.”

Ukrainians in Geelong’s sister organisation in the Ukraine has not yet confirmed where the funds will go to directly. It will assess the needs of Zaporizhzhia’s women and children before deciding.