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HB NEWS ‘IT REALLY RESTORED MY FAITH’ —)""" 73) GEORGETOWN MAN ASSISTS IN UKRAINIAN RELIEF EFFORT HERB GARBUTT hgarbutt@metroland.com Karol Chlebek couldn't help but feel nervous as their van approached the ne pared to enter the country, he didn't know what they would encounter. “Tt doesn't really hit you until you're so close to the Ukraine,” said the 23-year- old Georgetown resident. “Watching the news, you see everything is destroyed, so we really didn't know what xpect." Chlebek had spent the thought, “donations are great, but I wondered if I could do anything else." For three months, he was on a waiting list for a hu- manitarian loyment through the Global Medic Rapid Response When he finally got the call, he was told there was a group fav leaving in four days. care paramedic ae "Peel Region, Chlebek quickly checked to see if he could get the time off for the three-week trip. , waiting at the bor- der, het was. about to see the impacts hand. While Chiebek didn't see rubble of bombed build- ings — most of the fighting was ce several hundred kilometres to the west—hedid see thousands of people from those areas who were forced to fleefrom their homes. P| schools, gymnasi hospitals had been convert- ed into shelters. Chlebek his group delivered supplies to cities 1d. in Chernivtsi Province, across the Roma- ii order. nian be "We would be talking to someone (through a trans- lator) and later we'd ask, ‘Who was that?’ And they'd say, ‘Oh, that was the mayor’ or 'That was the general of the local military branch.’ ey were so appreciative.” He said they were shocked to find out he had come from fo help them. Chlebek's group made four trips into Ukraine, crossing the border at7a.m. and not returning until 9 pm. On those trips, they managed to deliver 1,500 emergency food kits. They were supposed to make two more trips, but another hu- manitarian Soup had heard missile . The missiles were shot dov down 100 kilometres from where they were, but it was still deemed too dangerous to return for the final trips. "You feel for what they are going through," he said. "You see all the wreckage on TV and then you meet the people who lived there. Those were their homes. It gives you a different per- ive." s Chlebek said the relief during four trips to Ukraine. Karol Chlebek's Global Medic Rapid Response Team delivered 1,500 boxes of food and supplies “You see all the wreckage on TV and then you meet the people who lived there. Those were their homes. It gives you a different perspective.” effort was very well orga- nized and so many people contributed, from the facto- ry owner who let them use his warehouse for free (and - Karol Chlebek gocasionaly treated them to fries), to the Romanian churches who belped them food and sup, plies, to nee taxi driver, Karol Chlebek photo translator who helped them navigate a foreign cit But what impressed Chlebek the most were the Ukrainian people. "It shows you how opti- mistic tic people can be. The amazing. We talked” to t the kitchen staff and they were all teachers who were volunteering. The locals stepped up to help, stocking shelves, cooking," he said. "It really restored my faith that times like that ally brings people togeth- WHAT SCHOOL BOARD DO YOU SUPPORT? ROLAND CILLIERS. rcilliers@metroland.com Do you know which board your money is going towards? mn Catholic Dis- ict School ‘Board (HCDSB) is inviting members of the community to check or — possibly — change their di- rection of school support in time for the upcoming mu- nicipal and school board elections set for October. By default, property tax- es support the English Pub- lic Board in a municipality. that can be changed. Only residents who provide tax support toa cular board are able to vote in that board's trustee elections. The Municipal Property Assessment Cor- ion (MPAC) is respon- sible for collecting the infor- mation of residents in Onta- However, rio to create a list of eligible voters for school board elec- tions and to direct funds. Eligible residents can visit www.voterlookup.ca to confirm that they are on the list to vote in the school board elections, and to de- termine which school board elections they are eligible to vote in. To change the direc- tion of support, residents need to fill out and submit a Application for Direction of School Support form, which can be found on the HCDSB's wobsito. The 2022 Municipal and School Board elections are set for Oct. 24. y favourite a for updates! ‘ UONEH- dl CUL | 2 zee ‘be Ainr ‘Aepsiny, | eordyouy