Giving Tuesday | Olesia’s Story

You can find Olesia at Oasis on Tuesday afternoons, helping create grocery bags for the food bank visitors. She makes sure the bags are all as full as possible. “More potatoes!” she insists when a bag feels light. “Five is not enough!”. When it comes to generosity, Olesia makes sure not a single morsel of food goes ungiven.

Six months ago, Olesia was still in the Ukraine, scrambling to make arrangements as the war began. Fortunately, she and her family found a way to Canada—first to an incredible host family in Whitby, and, now, to Toronto, where she and her family have settled in a new home downtown. As new residents of Canada, they’re embarking on every Canadian adventure they can.

After receiving so much help from people on her journey from the Ukraine to Canada, Olesia wanted to give back. She searched for a place where she could help others, and discovered Oasis. She signed up to volunteer, and the rest is history.

“I love it here because it’s like being a part of a family,” she explains.“Being here, seeing familiar faces of the other volunteers or people in line, gives me a sense of belonging. It’s like we’re all neighbours.”

To Olesia and others who are now calling Toronto home, Oasis is a place to build community while giving back, a place to grow connections while deepening one’s roots. And, to us, Olesia's big heart and generous spirit makes what we do all the better. Дякую тобі, Olesia!