At a the nexus of Highway 16 and Main Street in Smithers, BC, a small group of people gather to wave the Ukrainian flag to cars passing by.

Luba Kasum is a Russian-born Ukrainian who has lived in Canada for 19 years. She told CICK News that while she was born in Russia, she spent most of her life living in Ukraine, and still has many friends there.

"I'm thinking about my friends who still live there and are suffering from this war, and that's why I want people to remember the war is still going on", said Kasum on Ukrainian Independence Day (Aug. 24).

Aug. 24 also marked six months of the Ukraine-Russia war.

Kasum and her family have been helping to raise money locally to purchase furniture and other household items for refugees to the Bulkley Valley. The Kasums are also currently housing Ukrainian refugees in their home.

Another local man who is helping to fund campaigns to help Ukrainians is Scott Clydesdale, who was featured in a CICK interview in early August.

Clydesdale's fundraiser helps to raise money for supplies for Ukrainian soldiers, civilians, hospitals and everyone in between. His fundraiser is called "Trail Time For Ukraine," and that campaign is open until Sept. 30. People using trails in and around Telkwa and Smithers can make a donation at the BC Credit Union in Smithers to the account number #17178228 or e-transfer ukrainemedicalaid@citywest.ca 

That money that Clydesdale is asking Telkwa and Smithers hikers and bikers to pledge helps purchase medical and trauma supplies. And that’s not a broad stroke estimate, the money raised will be used to purchase those supplies from a veteran-owned business called Battle Rattle Tactical Supplies. CICK spoke to Dave Bryenton, the accountant at Battle Rattle, who has volunteered seven times to fly to Ukraine and hand-deliver hockey bags of supplies to the border in the Ukraine. 

In his interview with CICK News, he explains the logistics of entering a war zone to deliver these supplies and the people who help him.

Listen to Pamela Haasen's interview with Dave Bryenton and Luba Kasum in the audio link below: