At the end of Marjorie Ardelli’s driveway in Balls Creek, N.S., is something people driving by can’t miss. “I just wanted, I needed, to be able to do something,” said Ardelli when speaking of her effort to help people impacted by a war thousands of kilometers away. Her husband, Paul, built a large wooden box which the couple placed at the end of their driveway. They decorated it with Ukrainian flags and put up a homemade sign asking for bottles and cans to help people in the war-torn country. It all started shortly after the Russian invasion of the country in February 2022. “Watching the Ukraine crisis unfold from far away often feels overwhelming,” said Ardelli. “Collecting the recyclable cans and bottles gives us a daily task to make a difference.” She has managed to collect and sort more than 200,000 recyclable containers over the past four and a half years. On Saturdays, the bottles and cans go to a nearby recycling depot. On Sundays, the money from them is taken to her church, St. Mary’s Polish Parish in Whitney Pier, N.S. “Over the last four years we have raised $10,000,” said Ardelli. “Everybody in the Parish is supporting this,” said Tom Urbaniak, a parishioner at St. Mary’s Polish Parish. “Everybody in the Parish is behind Marjorie and her husband Paul.” Parishioners have been raising money since the start of the war to try and make a direct impact when it comes to food, shelter and medical aid for Ukrainians. “They have been going to three charities and one of them is in our sister city, Walbrzych in Poland, which has been caring for thousands of Ukrainian refugees,” said Urbaniak. Back at her home, Ardelli is happy to help, but said she does not really want to take any credit. “It is solely the thoughtfulness of the people, neighbours, friends, family, St. Mary’s Polish Church parishioners, and people I have never met,” Ardelli said of the years-long effort. In the end, Ardelli said she is doing her best to make a difference, one bottle or can return at a time. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
