Montreal's Ukrainian churches accept donations as they prepare for flood of refugees

Racked by worry and fear about her homeland and her relatives caught in the Russian assault, RuslanaMologtsovahas been volunteering at her church to help sort donations, in anticipation of the imminent arrival of refugees from Ukraine.

"Basically, all my family is there my brother, my mom, my in-laws, my uncles, my cousins.Everyone is there," saidMologtsova, sporting a T-shirt with a pre-2014 map of Ukraine that includesCrimea, printed in the bright blue and yellow of the country'sflag.

She worries her relativeswon't be able to get out of the country, as roadblocks multiply,curfews restrict movement, and lineups at the border get longer.

Each day has become more difficult for Ukrainians attempting to escape warfare.Russia has intensifiedits attacks on their country, and civilians are coming under fire.

A week into the conflict, it is already ahumanitarian disaster. Families are being torn apart, as men are asked to stay and fight alongside Ukrainian soldiers.

"I feel helpless, but volunteeringhelps me to get all those worries out and just do something,"Mologtsovasaid Wednesday, taking time outfromher task atAssumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic parish in Montreal's Rosemont neighbourhood.

The church is accepting donations ofwomen and children's clothing, diapers, hygienic products and non-perishable food.Other Ukrainian Catholic andOrthodox churches in the city are accepting other kinds of donations some to send to Ukraine and its bordering countries.

More than 874,000 people have fled Ukraine in search of safety in neighbouring countries, a UN refugee agency spokesperson told CBC News Network on Wednesday.

Mologtsovasaid she hopes Canada will welcome as many Ukrainians as possible, and quickly, andfacilitate adoptions from the country.

"It's so unbelievable that this is happening now in the 21st century, that people are suffering:peaceful people.They don't want war," she said.

The parish priest, Rev.Ihor Oschipko,said he's beenoverwhelmed by people's eagerness to help.

"These past four days, my phone just exploded because so many people want to come donate," he said.

Oschipkoknows intimately the plight of Ukrainian Canadians trying to get their families to safety. Two of his nieces have escaped in recent days. One,with a newborn baby,had to leave her husband behind to fight.

Oschipko is trying to bring them to Montreal.

"My appeal is to the Canadian government.Please, open the doors, your doors, for Ukrainian refugees.You won't regret [it].Ukrainians are very calm people, very hard-working people," he said.

The calamity is promptingMontrealers outside the Ukrainian community to help, as well.

Philip Locasciodrove from his home in the West Island to drop of two bags filled with clothes for the church after a Ukrainian friend shared a post on Facebook about thedrive for donations.

"The country is going through hell right now. We all know that it's not the right thing that's happening over there. People are going to be suffering over there, no food, so if we can help on this side of the world, that's what we do,"Locascio said.

The show of empathy from people like Locascio movedMologtsovaand other volunteers.

"It's so heartwarming that people come,"Mologtsova said, choking back tears. "Thank you so much."

"I feel a lot of anxiety, some anger and hope hope that everything goes well and that people can arrive here," said Myroslaw Balyckey, another community member."We just hope for the best."

The federal government said last week it isprioritizing immigration applications from Ukrainians fleeing the conflict.