In April 2022, Lev Rinhel started a Furniture Warehouse as a way of helping newcomers get furniture for their homes in Canada, which were typically empty when they moved in. It was a complicated, big project that required a clear plan of what to do, organizing of volunteers, and most of all, a desire to ‘roll up our sleeves’ and get to work. That is what Lev did.

Over the last four months, hundreds of Ukrainian families have received furniture for their new homes in Canada. Thanks to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council and Boilermakers Union, the project started in Boilermakers Union Warehouse on April 30. Since that time, 318 volunteer shifts have been filled, with more than 4000 volunteer hours. Some days, the Furniture Warehouse had 30 to 50 people during the shifts receiving and dropping off furniture donations. Lev also received, fixed, and gave a few vehicles to families whose husbands are still fighting in Ukraine.

The warehouse is still active now and functioning under the UCC-APC umbrella, but it would have never happened without Lev.