By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
CALEDONIA—For Caledonia resident Bledonia (Dona) Faci-Metcalfe, the ongoing horror and devastation currently being wrought upon the people of Ukraine by Russia hits a little too close to home.
Faci-Metcalfe is a first-generation Canadian, arriving here from war-torn Kosovo at the age of two years old.
Though she has not personally lived through a war, she feels she can relate closely to what many Ukrainian-Canadians are feeling right now.
“My family, as well as other members, fled our native home during the turmoil between the countries of Kosovo and Yugoslavia. Stories that have been shared include groups of families fleeing their homes during the night, escaping through forests with some members becoming lost and separated, only being able to pass through the Yugoslavian soldiers because your parent can speak the same language, as well as walking through a field of casualties.”
Instead of watching helplessly as Ukrainian families are displaced and put directly in harm’s way, Faci-Metcalfe decided to do something about it. Taking to social media, she invited members of the community to come drop off their empty bottles and cans at her home, with any funds raised going directly to the Canadian Red Cross.
“What inspired me to start the bottle drive was that I had family affected by war in the past. I felt helpless in helping the people of Ukraine due to being overseas. I thought of the idea of a bottle drive as I know it’s worked in the past to fundraise in Caledonia. I approached the Caledonia BIA, and they were very supportive of the idea,” said Faci-Metcalfe.
From there, it didn’t take long for the community to respond back in kind, with the Caledonia Lion’s Club coming on board to help Faci-Metcalfe with the logistics of running the drive: “The Lions Club got involved through the BIA. They offered to help me through navigating a bottle drive as they’ve ran a few bottle drives themselves.”
Caledonia Lion Craig Peters said the Lions Club has been conducting an ongoing bottle drive throughout the pandemic, so it just made sense to throw their support behind Faci-Metcalfe.
“We’ve been able to provide money to about five or six different groups in the Caledonia area,” said Peters of the club’s efforts, noting benefactors included the Caledonia Food Bank, the Knights of Columbus, the Caledonia Firefighters Association, and the Caledonia Legion. “I’ve been having bottles dropped off at my house for months.”
“When COVID hit, so many community groups weren’t able to do their business; we still had an opportunity to support things that needed to be supported…. We all work together,” he continued. “When we found out what Dona was doing, we said we could support them.”
Peters said Lions members have been pitching in by picking up the bottles from Dona’s place, sorting and counting them, and taking them to Beer Store locations in Caledonia and on Upper James in Hamilton, both of whom Peters called “fantastic” for their help in handling the large loads of empties routinely being brought in.
The drive was initially scheduled to end on March 17, lining up with the Red Cross deadline of March 18 to match any monetary donations made by Canadian citizens, however with the success the drive has seen so far, both Faci-Metcalfe and the Lions are keen to keep it going for as long as they can.
“The extension of the bottle drive is in hopes to raise more donations/funds,” said Faci-Metcalfe.
Peters added, “They can use all the money and support they can get. We don’t see an end in sight at this time; we’re just going to keep going.”
Peters, who has met Faci-Metcalfe and her husband Mike, was very impressed with her efforts: “They’re fairly new in the community. She has really taken it upon herself to support Ukraine.”
For her part, Faci-Metcalfe has nothing but thankfulness for the support she’s received, “The community has been amazing. From the donations to the messages of support, it has been great to see. That is one thing that I can honestly say is that the people of Caledonia really show up when you need them to.”
Those wishing to take part in the drive can bring their empty bottles and cans to either Faci-Metcalfe’s home at 77 Argyle Street South, or Peters’ home at 27 Maccoll Place, both in Caledonia.
Faci-Metcalfe summed up her thoughts on the humanitarian crisis that has now seen over 3.5 million people flee their homeland: “Please keep them in your prayers and if there’s any way to help, please do.”
