Local family spearheading Kyiv Home Project in Cottam

By Mark Ribble

The Kyiv Home Project is moving forward, thanks to some very generous people and businesses in Windsor-Essex.

The project is the brainchild of Gary Taveirne and his family, and ground is expected to be broken within the next week or so.

The Taveirne family was inspired by the story of their in-laws who moved to Canada from Bosnia in 1994.

That family escaped the war and finally found a home in Windsor-Essex.

Taveirne recently donated the lot in the newWoodbridge Estates subdivision that he is developing in Cottam.

His daughter, Jennifer Baggio, spoke to the Sun last week about the project.

“We’ve had some wonderful donations,” she said. “Even the Town of Kingsville was able to contribute.”

“For weeks we have been feeling helpless, watching in disbelief as Ukrainians have lost their homes, loved ones and any sense of security they thought they had,” says the project website.

The town waived their development fees after Baggio presented the project at the council meeting on June 13.

They’ve also expedited the building permits.

The Taveirne family has teamed up with Cottam United Church as the fundraising begins.

They are hoping to raise $250,000 to help with getting two families housed, furnished and relocated.

The home itself will be a duplex that willhouse two refugee families.

The group is working through the Ukrainian National Federation to get two families vetted and approved.

Baggio says they’ve had great support from the building community.

“We have brought Brent from BK Cornerstone on board, and he is reaching out to as many people as he can,” she said.

BK Cornerstone is acting as the general contractor and donating their services to the build.

Many other local companies have come forward to offer services or material.

They still need cash donations, if you’d like to get involved.

Those cash donations can be made in person at Cottam United Church, or on the project’s website at thekyivhomeproject.com.