The story of a local mother of three who left the safety of Canada to volunteer in war-torn Ukraine is getting major attention in the West Kootenays.

It was when Russia launched its invasion war in Ukraine last February that April Huggett decided to do her part to help the ailing people of the war torn country that is severely lacking in necessities needed both by civilians and soldiers. Huggett launched her non-profit Planet of People to source supplies, but ended up traveling to the frontlines of Ukraine to deliver them herself.

Castlegar News reporter Betsy Kline, who profiled 35-year-old April Huggett in a newspaper article last week, shares more on the story with KCR News.

“She just felt completely helpless," Kline says of Huggett, adding that the local could not let it go, get the war out of her mind and move on to daily life.

Danger is always close for Huggett, as recent photos from Ukraine have shown.

"There is one photo in our paper last week that she provided us, of basically an unexploded ordinance buried in the ground. They are definitely experiencing shelling," Kline said.

Her story was published in the Castlegar News just weeks before Huggett made her second trip back to the country, where she remains currently.  Huggett keeps her followers updated on Twitter as she continues her work on the ground.

Planet of People, Huggetts non-profit is registered in both Canada and Ukraine.

Hear Castlegar News' Betsy Kline on covering the story of Ukraine volunteer April Huggett: