For the last six months, a temporary rooming house in Hespeler has been helping families settle in Canada as they come from Europe in hopes of finding a better home.
Waterloo Region Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis has been organizing and looking after nearly a dozen families in an old home at 12 Tannery St. E. near the entrance to Forbes Park.
"This is a place where they come and are able to be a part of the Hespeler community," said Stephanie Goertz founder of the organization.
The group has several volunteers but is inviting the community out to meet them with the goal of discovering new ways of raising money and support for these families.
On July 18, the group will be meeting at the Hespeler Legion at 26 Schofield St. to discuss ideas and ask for assistance from the public.
"Right now we have an amazing team of volunteers, but there is still so much opportunity for the community to come out and help," said Goertz.
"It's important that these new families that are coming over here feel welcomed to the Hespeler community and that they are being taken care of by us."
The house has seen multiple families and individuals come and go, finding their own accommodations after getting settled.
From full families that span three generations to single adults, the Hespeler Guest House has served as a beacon for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict back home or those who ended up in bad situations in Canada.
Vitali Laktionov came to Toronto on March 1 where he was left stranded at Pearson Airport for three days. He was robbed of the only possessions he had and was living in despair.
"I had nowhere to go. I did not know anyone," said Laktionov previously to CambridgeToday.
All he had left was the clothes on his back and a cell phone that was in his pocket.
He was connected with Goertz and her team quickly took him into the Hespeler home. Since arriving in Cambridge, Laktionov has been given a warm bed, shoes, clothes and basic necessities to live.
He has since found a job as the grassroots response connects their newcomers with local employers.
Goertz notes that more people coming to Canada are going to need the help of the community and now is the time to start pitching in and uplift those around you.
Those interested in attending the meeting or learning how to help support the families living in the Hespeler Guest House can visit the Waterloo Region Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis' website.
