The Russian invasion of Ukraine is on everybody’s minds, including those around the world and at home.

Jiselle Zabarte, a Belleville woman, is one of the many Canadian residents doing her small part to assist those in need of support and connect her community at the same time.

She has started a Canadian Red Cross donation page to go toward long-term recovery efforts for victims, including purchases of food, essential household items, baby items and shelter.

So far, $200 of the $1,000 goal set by Zabarte has been reached.

Zabarte said she had an idea of running a benefit show with the fundraiser with help from local musicians and business owners, but with the pandemic still playing a factor, this was the best possible outcome without creating any more contact.

“I was hoping to mobilize this page so that people knew where to go if they wanted to donate to help," she explained.

"It's been very sad to watch that on the news (and see) the families being ripped apart and having to flee their country. I know, as Canadians, a lot of us are immigrants as well."

"It's hard for me to sit down and watch this without trying to do something to help."

The Government of Canada announced last week that will match every donation made by individual Canadians to the Canadian Red Cross between February 24 and March 18 up to a maximum of $10 million (CAD).

Global Affairs Canada will then transfer the matching funds to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal which will support the efforts of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement to respond to the humanitarian needs in Ukraine and surrounding countries.

That, Zabarte said, is one of the main reasons why she chose to raise funds through this platform. 

She said it's important for people to contribute anything they can and come together against the division that is happening in the world.

"There's been divisions in all sorts of areas, vaccinations, race, all of those things," she said.

"I want to shed light on one of the pretty important things (in the world). We're trying to fight for freedom with vaccinations when they're actual people in war right now, and complete unrest."

One-time and monthly donations of $75, $150, $200, or an amount of your choice can be made to the cause.

Canadians wishing to make a donation to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal can do so online at www.redcross.ca or by calling 1-800-418-1111.

This is not the first time Zabarte has contributed to a cause of this magnitude.

She had previously organized fundraising efforts to support animals and citizens who were victims of wildfires in Australia through Wires.org in 2020.