Photo supplied.
Photo supplied.
Pictured are Millbrook Manor residents writing postcards at an event organized by Postcards to the Front Canada founder Helen Bajorek. Another postcard workshop is scheduled to run at the Millbrook Manor on September 19th at 2pm.
As the war in Ukraine drags on, the need for international support grows. An easy way to offer support to those on the front is by joining a group of Canadians and Australians who coordinate the writing and delivery of personal notes of support from their citizens for distribution to Ukraine’s defenders on the front lines.
Postcards to the Front (Ukraine) was founded by three Ukrainian women shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. One of them was a member of an international group who send postcards all over the world, continuing the tradition of communicating by hand-written notes sent by mail. A week after the invasion began, she saw an opportunity to use postcards to send messages of support and encouragement to Ukrainian defenders. Among the first to participate were school children, but soon volunteers from all walks of life began to congregate in cafes and shelters to hold card-writing sessions across Ukraine. The cards are forwarded to people at the front who are medics, mechanics, drivers, cooks and members of the armed forces.
As word got out, others joined in the effort. First, an Australian branch of the organization was formed, and in April 2023, Millbrook resident Helen Bajorek established a Canadian branch. Since then, she has been sending postcards every month written by school children, members of social organizations and individuals from across Canada, the US and other countries, offering personal messages of support to Ukraine’s front line defenders. The messages are happy and supportive and not political, and include no mention of Russia.
Over the past two years, Postcards to the Front has been very active. Last year it launched a monthly newsletter providing updates about activities including community and school visits in Canada and Australia where they encourage more postcard writing as well as profiles of Ukrainians working to protect their country.
Among the events organized by the Canadian branch was a visit to Millbrook South Cavan Public School during the Remembrance Day events. Millbrook students quickly grasped the analogy of David and Goliath looking at a map of Russia and Ukraine and learned a few Ukrainian phrases from two of their fellow students who are Ukrainian. In July, the group operated a booth at Ladies’ Night in front of the Millbrook Legion where visitors learned about the project and wrote a few postcards. The group also went to Oshawa last month where they gave Canadian volunteer Brandon Boisvert, a member of Invictus Global response, a great send-off. He was headed back to Ukraine for another tour where he will help remove mines scattered across the war-torn country.
As the war drags on, morale is flagging and those on the front lines could really use a boost to morale. Organizers hear about the impact of the postcards on their recipients who are often brought to tears by these personal notes. Apparently word about the program is spreading. The founder who facilitates card distribution recently received a request for another 3,000 cards from Ukrainian brigades.
Postcards for Ukraine is organizing fall events and launching their second Christmas in July campaign. They are hoping to collect cards with Christmas and/or New Year’s greetings by the end of September to ensure they arrive at their destination before the holidays. These notes of encouragement will help those on the front line feel less isolated during the holiday season when they are far from family and friends.
Postcards should include simple, English phrases or some basic Ukrainian messages. Writers are encouraged to mention that they are from Canada, to remind recipients that there are people around the world who support them. Tips and translations are available on the organization’s website.
If you are interested in sending off some postcards and would prefer to do it in a group, you can join residents at the Millbrook Manor where Helen is holding another workshop on September 19th at 2pm.
Every postcard makes a difference, but don’t expect a reply from card recipients: they are not in a position to write back. Sending these cards is a bit like sending a message in a bottle- it requires a leap of faith.
A postcard might feel like a feeble response to a heartbreaking situation, but these messages resonate. One recipient explained that “The postcards make (us) calm and motivated. The darkest day would be a bit brighter because somebody handwrote their sincere support to us.”
For more information about the organization, visit www.postcardstothefrontcanada.com. KG