DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – As chaos continues to unfold through the air and on the streets of Ukraine, Door County Candle Company is offering a helping hand.
Owner Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani is 100% Ukrainian.
“I looked at it as bringing light to Ukraine and unity and being able to share a little part of Ukraine and bringing it into people’s homes to raise that awareness.”
Just two days into the fundraiser, more than 5,000 candles have already been purchased.
Razom for Ukraine will be receiving the funds. Razom translated means together, which is the message Gorchynsky Tropani conveys.
Gorchynsky Tropani has family in the western part of Ukraine. Helicopters fly above their home, shooting flares out of the sides.
“That was the hardest part, was getting a video of bombings right outside their home,” said Gorchynsky Tropani. “And them just recording it and hearing them cry in the video was gut wrenching. It was terrible.”
While Christiana’s family is alive and safe at the moment, things can change in an instant.
FOX 11 asked if they were thinking of escaping the nation.
“I think they are planning on staying and just trying to wait it out,” said Gorchynsky Tropani. “So we’ll see though, every day changes, but right now they’re planning on staying.”
The scent of the candle is vanilla, something the owner says can bring comfort in the darkest of times.
Tropani says the orders they’re receiving go far beyond initial goals.
“We’ve well surpassed my goal of $10,000. That was my goal. I was like it would have been great to even get $1,000, but $10,000 would be awesome, so I know we’ve well surpassed that.”
Previous owner of the shop Mike Felhofer came out of retirement, offering his expertise with the high demand for orders, which made their website crash.
“We’re getting orders from all over,” said Felhofer. “Everybody sincerely wants to help in any way they can, it’s just very heart warming and humbling.”
The fundraiser will go as long as people want to support Ukraine through this effort.
