ELORA – Katie Cher was astonished that so many people attended the fundraiser for Ukraine she and some friends held at the Elora Café on March 5, and that the fundraiser raised $21,000 for the Canadian Red Cross’ Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.
“I remember that Friday night (Feb. 25) seeing the news and feeling helpless,” she told the crowd gathered outside the café.
“I decided we need a fundraiser, and we need it now.”
A week later, food had been donated and assembled, items collected for a live and online auction, entertainment was arranged, and word had spread. Like wildfire.
Cher didn’t have an exact number, but by 4pm at least 50 people were lined up at the door.
They filed through the tiny café, bid on silent auction items, and then went to the outdoor patio area for food and social time.
The event ran from 4 to 8pm and the crowd never waned, she said.
Whitney Matusiac was moved when she saw footage of the war in Ukraine and the injustices done to ordinary people.
“It’s so nice to be a small town,” said the Elora woman, who attended the fundraiser.
“You don’t have to Google to see how to help. You just walk down the street to see a community pulling together.
“I want to step up and support people who are supporting others.”
Amberley Arnold had a similar thought. She lives in Guelph and found out about this fundraiser on Facebook.
She has two kids, aged nine and 11 – “old enough to know what’s going on in the world,” she said.
“I wanted them to see how to take something that feels hopeless and turn it into empowerment. This is where you find hope.”
Cher said her grandparents are from Ukraine and she still has family there. A cousin managed to escape to Poland, she said and that has given her comfort.
Performing the Ukrainian national anthem are Robert Miscen, Jennifer Watkins, Peter Skoggard, Ardeth Jarvis and Dianne Chapitias. Photo by Joanne Shuttleworth
But conditions are ever-changing and generally terrible and terrifying for the citizens who remain hunkered down in basements, subway tunnels and bomb shelters while bombing goes on around them.
Led by local artist and musician Peter Skoggard, the crowd sang the Ukrainian national anthem and dug deep into their wallets.
Cher said many online auction items arrived while the fundraiser was happening. So she’s wrapping up the first auction – everything sold, she said – and part two of the online auction will start up later this week.
The bidding takes place at galabid.com/eloraforukraine and auction items include gift cards from local businesses, art pieces, local experiences, and the Elora Mill also donated an item.
Cher, who owns Ruby Sage, Inspiration for the Soul, said she came up with the fundraiser idea but it was a team of three who made it happen.
Paula Allen, owner of the Elora Café, and Lauren Roy of Lauren Roy Music were also instrumental in getting it off the ground.
Ruby Sage and Elora Café continue to accept cash donations. Donations can also be made at donation.redcross.ca.
“I’m so happy and grateful to everyone who participated,” Cher said. “Maybe this is the thing that will unite the world.”
