If you ask any firefighter what the most rewarding part of the job is, many will acknowledge the opportunity to help others in times of need. Over this past year, the East Gwillimbury Professional Firefighters Association spent time in our public schools with a very important message, “Firefighters are your friends” to reinforce the message that our department exists to protect and help our community in times of trouble. But not all calls for help come through a 911 dispatcher. There are times when we as firefighters are not able to help out as much as we would like. Recently, one of our members met two young Ukrainian families. Both families recently fled from their war-torn homes and came to Ontario. We use the word families; however, the government will not allow men to leave unless they have at least three children. So these brave women left their country, their husbands, their extended families, and their jobs to protect their children and find safety. The EGPFFA is raising awareness and starting this LFEBridge in hopes that we might be able to practically help these two families in their time of need. Here is a very brief bio: Oksana has a 5-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter. She works 2 part-time jobs 7 days a week in Newmarket to care for her children and rent their basement apartment. She is presently trying to learn English in hopes of getting a better job and gaining permanent residence in Canada but this is difficult with her work schedule. Marina has a 2-year-old daughter and works full-time as a receptionist in Newmarket. She rents a basement apartment and is presently working to cover the expenses of food, daycare, a car & rent. These women have demonstrated tremendous courage, resilience and hard work leaving their country, coming to Canada and finding a home and work to care for their families. They persevere each day with a positive attitude and outlook but they need support to help that will enable them to get ahead, prosper and enjoy the opportunities this country offers.
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