Mama’s market for Ukraine

GEELONG’S Ukrainian community is rallying to raise funds for the tens of thousands of people affected by war in their homeland as the Russian invasion continues to devastate the country.

The Ukrainian Women’s Association is holding a ‘Mama’s Market’ this Saturday (May 7) at its Pakington Street community centre, with funds raised to go towards acquiring medicines, medical supplies and required humanitarian aid for people in south-eastern Ukraine.

“Our counterpart organisation in Ukraine, in Zaporizhia … have informed us that the hospitals have been completely inundated with injured and mutilated women and children who managed to escape from Mariupol,” Maria Lubczenko, coordinator of the Mama’s Market said.

Mariupol is now almost completely under Russian control and the city has been levelled, including hospitals, and while tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee many residents remain.

“They (Zaporizhia) tell us about the children who have sustained horrific injuries and how they do not have the required medicines or medical equipment to treat them,” Ms Lubczenko explained.

“They inform us that doctors and nurses are working around the clock, having to live in hospital basements.”

Timed to coincide with Mother’s Day, the Mama’s Market will be a celebration of Ukrainian culture and will include Varenyky (traditional Ukrainian dumplings), imported Ukrainian produce, arts and craft including floral garlands, jewellery and pottery.

There’ll also be a silent auction for a week-long stay at Tasmania’s Bruny Island, a weekend at Fairhaven, cafe and food vouchers, floral arrangements, beauty products and more.

The market opens at 10am on Saturday at 57 Pakington Street, Geelong West, and entry is by gold coin donation.