NORTHEAST WISCONSIN (NBC 26) — As the conflict continues to escalate in Ukraine, people from across Northeast Wisconsin with ties to Ukraine are helping to lead efforts in providing support.
For Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani the owner of Door County Candle Company, it’s been a difficult last few days.
“It just breaks your heart and talking to family in Ukraine who are directly affected is horrible. Innocent people are dying, shouldn't be happening, said Gorchynsky Trapani.
Feeling helpless and being thousands of miles away from loved ones overseas, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
She's making candles in the colors of the Ukraine flag with 100 percent of the profits going to "Razom for Ukraine” a non-profit dedicated to assisting with the humanitarian crisis.
Click here to learn more about that organization.
"I was hoping for maybe 50 to 100 to be sold. Anything to be sold to make money. Definitely was not expecting over 7,000 candles,” said Gorchynsky Trapani.
And it's not just this business owner in the area who is helping, across Northeast Wisconsin other local Ukrainians are partnering up with a Chicago shipping company to send humanitarian aid and basic military supplies overseas.
"We have some socks here, thermal underwear, blankets, boxes of clothes, and boxes of non-perishable food,” said Valentyn Tereshchenko, who is one of the organizers.
For this man who was born and raised in Ukraine, he said all donations are going to help thousands of families like his.
"A couple of my cousins are in the bomb shelters right now. They've spent three or four nights already,” Tereshchenko said.
He says supplies are needed for Ukrainians to survive.
Below are some of the items that have already been donated. He describes the weather in Ukraine as being very similar to Northeast Wisconsin, which is why a lot of warm clothing is needed.
If you would like to donate, you can drop off items at the following locations across Brown County:
Below is a list of other items you can donate:
All donated items will be trucked by a volunteer from Green Bay to Chicago. From there, Meest Chicago Shipping LLCwill fly the donations to Poland, truck them into Lviv and distribute them to relevant Ukrainian relief organizations. Meest has been shipping items to Ukraine for more than 20 years.
In the meantime, both Tereshchenko and Gorchynsky Trapani are holding onto hope.
They’re praying and continuing to do what they can with what they have.
For the Ukraine candles sold at Door County Candle Company, they’re going fast.
It’s recommended you call ahead of time to make sure they're available when you arrive.
You can also order them online and have them shipped directly to your home. Click hereto do so.
