About a month ago, Yamaska Valley Optimist Club (YVOC), a non-profit organization that supports children in the Brome-Missisquoi region, launched an initiative titled “Operation Backpack.” The initiative was created to help families fleeing the Ukraine to Canada by collecting backpacks for children to have once they enter school. As a result of widespread community support, the initiative has been a grand success, organizers say, and the committee for Operation Backpack is still expecting more donations.
“What sparked 'Operation Backpack' was the early videos of the refugees fleeing the Ukraine. These refugees were by and large women, women with children, and children with backpacks,” recounted Susan Mason, member of the committee for Operation Backpack. “It’s hard for us to imagine what it must be like to leave behind their fathers, their grandfathers, teachers, leave behind their friends, leave everything behind except a backpack.”
Mason then approached the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in Montreal, that represents the Ukrainian-Canadian community, and YVOC with the idea to collect backpacks.
“And 'Operation Backpack' began. The YVOC embraced the idea, set up a committee, and that committee reached out to the community for donations of backpacks,” said Mason.
While the committee thought about including school supplies in the backpacks, they decided to go with something different.
“That got just a little overwhelming. So, we kept it just to the backpack. However, we have included a signed welcome to Canada card. The welcome to Canada card is in Ukrainian, very colourful, very lively, fun so that when kids open the backpack, there is their welcome card,” explained Mason.
Once the YVOC officially collects all of the backpacks that are expected and wraps up the initiative, it will be sending them to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
“They have a donation centre there and will disperse as the Ukrainian Canadian Congress feels the need,” added Mason.
Mason said that the community’s response to the initiative was nothing but supportive.
“We have, on hand, 590 backpacks, and we are still expecting a few deliveries, so it’s pretty awesome,” she said.
A few business in the community served as drop off points for the backpacks to provide their support for the initiative.
“Virgin Hill was a drop off point for individuals who wanted to donate backpacks. As well as Mission who accepted individual donations. 605 was accepting donations of individuals and business that wanted to donate in bulk. There’s been a huge community response for which there isn’t a big enough thank-you,” said Mason.
Mason emphasized that “Operation Backpack” was the success that it was as a result of the various collaborations in the community.
“A resounding thank-you needs to be said to everyone who participated at every level. For those who donated the backpacks, donated money, and those who donated their time. To the designers, the people that designed and printed the post cards, and the posters,” said Mason. “And kind of a special shout-out to the kids in Miranda-Anne’s Grade 4 class at the Vision School in Sherbrooke. These kids did a little fundraising drive and collected money to buy backpacks to send to us.”
Listen to the full interview with Mason below: