Hamilton residents book stays in Ukraine to support host families

Hamiltonians are among Canadians booking stays at Ukrainian housesto supportowners of the rental units,even though they have noplans to visitthe country.

People around the world have been booking Ukrainian rental unitsvia Airbnb after apost was shared on Instagramby an account named@quentin.quarantino. The premise is by booking the properties, people will be directly donating to Ukrainians as Russian military forces continue to invadethe country.

Hamilton's Tara Smith bookedfour nights in Odesa, Ukraine.

"I thinkit was one or two days after the day, and that way the host would receive the money almost immediately," she said.

Smith messaged her hostexplaining how she wouldn't be coming, but people around the world arethinking about the people of Ukraine.

Shetransferred$114.23forher booking. "I kind of just decided to book like a week's worth of groceries for me," she said.

After watching10 to 12 stories about how potential guestsheard back from their hostson@quentin.quarantino's Instagram account, Smith said"it was very heartwarming."

"I was anxiously awaitinga response, I think because I had read all these other responses that people had gotten."

Little did she know that she was about tohave a back-and-forth conversation with Julia, her host.

Julia wrote backat 4 a.m. Ukraine time."[Thank]you," she said. "We are sitting with our daughter in a bomb shelter now.

"Our country has taken a hit and is defending the whole world of democracy and its territory. Thanks."

Smith said she had been watching the grief so much in the news, but having this personal conversation with someone on the ground just humanized it. Her husband was also happy to know the family was alive and safe in a shelter.

"It's not just something that you can look away from or turn away from," Smith toldCBCNews.

She saidshe feels sadness, empathy and fear for the family after reading the messages.

"When I read that she was in a bomb shelter with her daughter, I just felt like I wanted to vomit. It was like,as a parent, you picture and youput yourself in that situation," she said.

"It just makes you hold on to every small moment you have with your family, your loved ones."

Smith wasn't sure what to write back and discussed it with her boss, Andrew Kinsella. "It's not just about money," he said,"but it's about the people of Ukraine knowing that they are not alone."

Smith said she understood that human connection after talking to her boss and reading comments on the original Instagram post.

"We all as humans need validation and we want to be heard, and just that connection is what's so important."

She was happyshe could help when Julia replied again after two days, saying, "Dear Tara! I want to thank you for your help. We bought groceries and medicines.

"Gotta hold on, thanks again."

Kinsella, who owns a set designing company called On Set Design, also booked a place in Odesaand heardback from his host.

Kinsellabooked three nights, contributing $150.

"It was really good to just make a connection and let someone know that in a small way, you know, that we are thinking about themand wanna help."

Airbnb'ssenior communications officer, Matt McNama,confirmed that the dynamic exists.

"Airbnb has waived all service fees for any bookings in Ukraineso that any money donated to Ukraine via that community-driven platform goes directly to Ukrainians," he said.

Airbnb chief executive officer Brian Chesky said in a tweetthat 434,000nights were booked in Ukraine, accounting for almost $19.1 millionCdngoing to the hosts in need, within oneweekafter this initiative began.

He also shared several touchingresponses from Ukrainianhosts on his Twitter account.

McNamatweetedthatnearly 3,000 of these bookings made during the first 48 hours were from Canada.

"It's wonderful to see Canadians step up," said McNama, who lives in Toronto.

Airbnb has suspended all operations in Russia and Belarus.

The companyalso announced an initiativeto house 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, andmore than 31,000 hosts from around the world have signed up, including 1,000 Canadians, McNama said.