Each month we meet hundreds of people, of all ages, writing postcards to Ukraine’s Defenders. We also receive many encouraging notes in envelopes full of cards written by postcard warriors. Lucky us! We get to read so many supportive messages! We are grateful to know that there are among us many kind and caring humans!

Consistently, we hear of heartbreak for Ukraine. Equally, we are told how glad people are to have the opportunity to write a personal message to a Defender; a way to make a human connection. From me, to you, with love.

We’ve also had the opportunity to meet a few politicians, from all levels of government, and all parties, and hear the same message: Canada stands with Ukraine. We’ll continue our work to grow and nurture that commitment and support.

At the opening reception of the unique and poignant “Tridents & Tanks: Ukraine’s Struggle for Freedom” exhibition at the Canadian Tank Museum, Oshawa, Ontario we heard a reinforcement of strong Canadian political support for Ukraine. We’re gonna need to step up even more, now that Russia is flexing its drone muscle into Poland.

After he took some time from the busy-ness of the evening to write a message of support to a Defender of Ukraine, Oleh Nikolenko, Consul-General of Ukraine to Canada in Toronto, told me: “many Defenders keep their cards in a pocket with them, as a talisman for their safety. Yes, they need weapons. They also need to know that the world has not forgotten them.”

Also that same evening, I watched as Colonel Andrii Shmilyk, Military Attaché, Armed Forces of Ukraine, accept two beautiful paintings by 10-year-old Mia, who is sheltering in Canada with her mother.

He asked: “aren’t you giving those to Postcards to the Front?”

“No,” she explained. “I want you to take them to Defenders in Ukraine. You.”

And then, she passed me her tablet and asked me to take a picture of the two of them. Colonel Shmilyk bent down to her level. Presumably, to give balance in the photo.

“No. Stand!” she directed.

His smile seemed filled with pride.

A little hero in Canada, telling an officer-soldier hero to give her paintings to soldier heroes in her homeland, Ukraine. Both standing tall, with pride for their homeland.

The words of Consul-General Oleh Nikolenko, and the honorable poise and shared pride of Mia and Colonel Shmilyk, form a picture of Ukrainian strength and resilience that will stay with me a long while!

Dear postcard warriors, you’re doing a great job with your messages of support that boost morale every day at the front lines in Ukraine! Thank you.

Can you do one more supportive action this week? Perhaps you might choose from this list:

1. Write a letter to your federal representative reminding them that you and your family and friends support Ukraine. You expect nothing less from your political representatives.
2. Write a letter to your federal representative telling them that you support the need for increased weapons in Ukraine. Postcards go a long way to boost morale. Weapons go a long way to protect Ukraine’s people from daily shelling of homes, schools, hospitals and infrastructure.
3. Write a letter to your federal representative reminding them that Ukraine needs medical supplies, and help getting back Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia.
4. Save some money from a few cups of coffee and donate it to a credible charity that supports humanitarian aid or medical aid in Ukraine. For instance, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and RIY Vancouver. In Australia, there’s the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations. In the United States, you can find many opportunities listed on Charity Navigator.
5. There is a growing need for prosthetic support for veterans and for civilians of Ukraine, including children. The article, “Five ways to support Ukrainian War Veterans” includes ways to help fund prosthetics.

There are many ways you can support Ukraine, within your own time and budget restraints. Thank you for your continued efforts!

Your cards do make a difference, as Danylo tells us from the front lines –

Nothing warms the soldiers’ heart as a handwritten letter.  

Please share and subscribe!