As a Canadian company, Musket’s origins are similar to many other companies, having been established by immigrants, and today continue to train and employ generational Canadians, immigrants, and refugees. The bulk of the company is comprised of Slavic immigrants and refugees, and over the past 29 years, we’ve welcomed other immigrants and refugee groups, providing training and employment opportunities, and ensuring a safe and stable working environment.
With the recent invasion of Ukraine, Musket Transport believes in the importance of coming together to support and provide aid to those in need.
Musket has already set up an internal committee to spearhead Ukrainian humanitarian projects and handle internal communication with any employees who may be affected by the war, either directly or indirectly. The committee includes Musket Corporate Communications Officer, Sophia Sniegowski Begidzhanov; Vice President of Technology, Adrian Balij; Health & Safety Manager, Daryn Rabb; and GM/Director of Operations, Jaime Rosa.
“Musket Transport made a commitment early on that we stand with Ukraine in support of peace and stability,” stated Begidzhanov. “Due to our establishment history, many of our employees are of Slavic origin and it is important for us to come together and assist where possible. Most recently, we decided to partner up with our customer, Polimex Forwarding Corp., to gather donated goods at our facilities and ship them to Poland and Ukraine as a part of our humanitarian effort. Our goal is to fill an entire shipping container worth of donations from the public and from our teams at Musket and Polimex.”
The partnership with Polimex Forwarding Corp is centered around the collection of goods at the company’s facilities in Toronto and Mississauga. This initiative is open to the public, so anyone who wants to contribute is welcome to drop off goods to any drop-off location. The goal is to collect one shipping container worth of goods, which will then be shipped to the Lions Club organization and a Cyclone Manufacturing warehouse to be distributed to Poland as well as Lviv, Kijev, and Ternopil. Goods requested include household items, hygiene, medical products, and more (see the complete list below).
“Polimex is proud to team up with Musket Transport and join this incredible community movement to help the Ukrainian refugees in Poland,” says Kris Manitius, Vice President of Polimex. “As a Polish-Canadian shipping company, we are deeply connected to Europe and are therefore dedicated to share our experience, logistical expertise and support in order to provide humanitarian aid to the war-torn people of Ukraine. We’re also really moved by the generosity and kindness of Polish people and organizations who extended a helping hand to the people in need. We continue to stand with Ukraine against this war and believe that in this difficult time every donation and act of kindness matter.”
None of these undertakings were handled lightly, and we’re forever grateful for all the support, within the company and from partners externally who have joined us in these initiatives.
Hanna Sobiech from Lions Club Calisia is spearheading the humanitarian effort and is providing the following:
1) The ability to clear customs in Poland with no duties and taxes.
2) Ability to deliver from the warehouse in Poland to their partnering Clubs in Lvov as well as in Tarnopol for distribution in Ukraine.
3) Ability to distribute from their branches in major cities in Poland to Ukrainian refugees.
One of the biggest challenges was to secure a location where containers would be transloaded in Poland. This has been solved by Andrzej Sochaj from Cyclone Manufacturing which operates out of Mississauga and Poland and has a facility in Krasnik that could be used as a warehouse which will provide not only space, but also manpower to reload goods.
In addition to the Polimex partnership, Musket Transport has already donated $10,000 to the Canadian Red Cross—Ukraine Humanitarian Crises Appeal, a donation project with all funds raised being matched by the Canadian Government.
The company is also setting up a free training program for 25 Ukrainian refugees through their sister company, Commercial Heavy Equipment Training (CHET), and are looking forward to welcoming Ukrainians to Ontario, Canada with training and employment opportunities already in place.
Smaller sponsorships are also being set up including aiding smaller organizations and/or individuals inside and outside the company, sponsoring various volunteer soldier brigades that are flying to Ukraine by providing supplies, and donating funds to aid a private effort to deliver refugees from Ukraine to Poland (learn more here).
Monetary donations are also being collected to go towards Happy Kids—an organization in Poland that founded 19 orphanages across the country and are now safely evacuating and settling Ukrainian orphans in their facilities in Poland.
We welcome all and any support with these initiatives and projects. Those wishing to drop off donations can do so at the following locations:
Musket Transport:
2215 Royal Windsor Dr, Mississauga between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.
2421 Cawthra Rd, Mississauga between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.
7-3350 Ridgeway Dr, Mississauga between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.
556 Southdown Rd, Mississauga open to outside carriers only, not open to public walk-ins due to safety protocols. Drivers and outside carriers can donate items or cash between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm.
Polimex:
141 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto between the hours of 10:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays. Open for public donations between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm on Saturdays.
3145 Dundas St W, Mississauga between the hours of 10:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays. Open for public donations between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm on Saturdays.
3615 Dixie Rd #11, Mississauga between the hours of 10:00 am and 5:30 pm, Mondays to Fridays. Open for public donations between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm on Saturdays.
Goods that have been requested:
- Sleeping bags
- Sleeping thermal pads
- Towels
- Thermoses
- Waste bags (60 litres and more)
- Diapers
- Sanitary pads
- Pain reduction medication (Tylenol, Advil)
- Anti-diarrhea medicine
- Vitamins and vitamin complexes (B, C, Calcium, Omega 3, Magnesium)
- Toothpaste
- Shower gel
- Medical Cotton
- Bandages
The official collection start date at all facilities is Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
Truck News: Musket Transport, Polimex Forwarding collecting donations for Ukraine