The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was recently honored with a humanitarian award for its contributions to the Ukrainian evacuee settlement process in Calgary, Alberta.
On Dec. 23, 2023, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Chapter gave the Church its 2023 Hetman Ukraine Crisis Humanitarian Aid Award, the Church’s Canada newsroom reported.
The award recognizes extraordinary Albertans contributing to the well-being of displaced Ukrainians in Alberta or supporting humanitarian aid for Ukrainians impacted by the Russia–Ukraine war, said Nadiia Hunko, a community outreach worker with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in Alberta.
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met these criteria by demonstrating leadership, swiftly addressing needs and providing essential items and services,” she said, adding that nominations are submitted by a third party, “reflecting the broader community’s acknowledgment of [the Church’s] impactful contributions.”
Across the province of Alberta, Latter-day Saints provided emergency arrival kits, clothing, household necessities and 500 arrival backpacks for children.
Hunko said meeting these basic needs was critical for the thousands of Ukrainian evacuees arriving daily and starting their lives over in Canada.
Greg Stringham, the Church’s Calgary communication director, added, “[The Church] provided ongoing service and organization as the need extended with more evacuees arriving and the needs changing and growing. Latter-day Saints rallied because they believe ‘when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God’” (Mosiah 2:17).
In addition to basic emergency needs, the Church donated more than $250,000 in supplies over five months to St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor in Calgary for distribution to refugees, and $25,000 to St. Vladimir’s for household necessities. An additional $25,000 went to Ukrainian Canada Social Services in Edmonton to support evacuees.
The Church also hosted “survival English” classes at a local chapel, in partnership with the Ukrainian Welcoming Committee and secured temporary housing for refugees for 1,000 nights in partnership with Mount Royal University Residence Services. St. Stephen Protomartyr Ukrainian Catholic Church provided additional funding.
The Church also initiated a temporary-housing website with the Centre for Newcomers as part of the ongoing effort to assist with housing needs.
Stringham said the Church’s impact goes beyond immediate assistance, however.
“It has a lasting effect on the lives of those who moved across the world with little to no English knowledge or funds,” he said.
