It's never easy to start over again in a new country.
But what if you're fleeing a war where every day brings an ugly headline of death and destruction?
For one newly-arrived Ukrainian family, settling in Coquitlam over the summer has come as a relief.
Anton, his wife and two young children have made a home in a rented house in the community and have made a lot of progress since arriving here at the end of June.
See social media post below if you wish to help the newly-arrived Ukrainian family furnish their Coquitlam home.
Anton, a photographer back home in Kyiv, is continuing his passion after getting a job behind the camera with Dynamic Weddings.
His wife started a new job today (Oct. 11) and their 10-year-old daughter is in school, while their two-and-a-half-year-old second child recently started daycare.
But while the family has done what it takes to get their life re-started — thanks to acquiring social insurance numbers to be able to work — their home is completely empty of furniture, said Anton's boss Dennis Bellia.
Bellia's wife, Jennifer, dropped off some photography equipment to Anton last week and wanted to provide some further assistance.
"My wife was there, she noticed the house was empty," said Bellia.
"She could tell they were very shy, proud and found it hard to ask for things....We wanted to help."
After speaking with the family and getting a sense of their need, Bellia put an immediate call out to his own family for toys, clothes and mattresses.
He said his family members were quick to help, having met Anton at a recent family wedding where he worked as a second photographer.
Several bags of clothes, toys and even mattresses were delivered over the weekend.
"It was interesting how it just organically happened, We were knee deep in collecting and sorting donations, I said to my wife, 'this is actually perfect, this is Thanksgiving weekend, we are just so thankful.'"
However, the family still needs furniture and because they don't have a car need donations to be delivered.
What's more, at least three more family members are arriving from the Ukraine soon, including parents and a 16-year-od boy.
Bellia is helping with the arrangements via Facebook messenger and yesterday put a call out for specific items.
Although many people have offered, Bellia is still looking for help and says the list of items posted today is still current.
Topping the list is Halloween costumes and Christmas decorations.
"Christmas is not too far off, and a tree and decorations would make it really unique, a nice touch for them."
See the Facebook page for the full list of needed items.
