A Ukrainian family coming to seek refuge in Niagara has a bit of a boost, thanks to two Niagara-on-the-Lake residents.

Garrison Village residents Brian Carberry and Jan Van Haren held a garage sale on Saturday, to raise money for Ukraine relief efforts and the Tymchyshyn family, who arrived in Niagara about four weeks ago, after fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

They said people were lined up Saturday morning an hour before the sale event started.

“We had a pretty good turnout. We were starting at 8:30 a.m. The first we're at 7:30. Standing out in their cars waiting. We rolled the door open at 8:30 and 15 people walked in and started going through,” Carberry said.

He said it was a “constant flow” of traffic until about 10:30 a.m. when things began to slow down, and that people were eager to donate, even if they didn't buy anything from the sale.

“So that's great. It makes it worth doing it,” Carberry said.

“We raised $3,200 in sales of goods and food and from generous donations.”

“We presented the family with $1,000 and a few items from the garage sale. The remaining funds will be sent through Rotary International to Ukraine. So far Rotary International has sent over $3 million U.S. to help in Ukraine.”

Carberry and Van Haren said some NOTL councillors and lord mayor Betty Disero were among the people to stop in and make a donation.

They said they were planning the garage sale, and normally donate to children in need, but since the Rotary Club of NOTL is hosting a major garage sale for children in May, “we felt at this point the cause for Ukraine was more important.”

The sale also included a small barbecue and sale of cookies and muffins, with coffee and hot dogs donated by PigOut Catering, Ukraine cookies from Alitura bakery and sunflowers available by NOTL resident Shirley Madsen, who is encouraging people to plant sunflowers for Ukraine.