Young philanthropist partners with Indigo to aid Ukrainian refugees

Oscar Oliver is a 12-year-old philanthropist living in Barrie.

His family is Polish-Canadian, so when he heard about the war in Ukraine and saw the plight of refugees pouring into Poland, he wanted to try to help — especially other kids.

Oscar devised the Buy A Backpack campaign with the mission of filling 1,000 backpacks with educational supplies, toiletries, small toys and treats for Ukrainian refugee children in Poland.

With the help of donors, Oscar filled 400 backpacks and actually went to Poland with his mother in the spring for two weeks to deliver them to kids in refugee centres.

He came back to Canada determined to do more.

For help reaching his goal of 1,000 backpacks, Oscar knew who to ask — he approached book giant Indigo; the company has responded wth a $75,000 donation in  Indigo merchandise that will help Oscar reach the 1,000 backpack goal.

Indigo is working directly with Oscar on his wish list, which includes backpacks, books, and Indigo products for the Ukrainian children in Poland.

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Oscar Oliver, 12, wanted to try to help Ukrainian school kids who were refugees in Poland. HANDOUT PHOTO

On Wednesday, July 20 at 9 a.m. Oscar will undertake a special shopping spree at Indigo in Sherway Gardens, choosing the books, school supplies, gifts items and more that will fill backpacks.

With this donation, Indigo hopes to encourage more kids like Oscar to inspire and make a difference in their community.

Oscar will deliver the Indigo-filled backpacks in August at a special event at the Warsaw Zoo that he’s helping to organize.

Dream Night At The Zoo is a gathering for 400 kids with terminal and chronic illnesses and their caregivers, and refugee children from Ukraine.

It’s organized through the children’s charity Fundacja Dziecieca Fantazja with which his family has been involved for 20 years.

(Oscar’s parents are recipients of the Canadian Governor General’s Medallion for Charity Work, so he comes by his philanthropy naturally.)

On his own time, Oscar is a gifted athlete and a champion figure skater. He is the Ontario Pre-Novice Champion in singles and pairs, and trains at the Mariposa School of Skating.

If you would like to contribute to one of Oscar Oliver’s backpacks, visit the website at oscaroliver.org.