DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Inside the doors of Door County Candle Company, a fundraiser benefiting Ukraine has only gotten bigger since its start.
Being 100% Ukrainian, owner Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani tells FOX 11 she’s overwhelmed by the support she’s received.
“I genuinely thought when we launched this we’d only sell 50 to 100.”
More than 40,000 candles have been sold so far.
A number that Gorchynksy Trapani is confident has reached the entire U.S.
“We’ve hit the outliers that have been Alaska and Hawaii. I’m fairly confident we’ve hit all 50 states.”
With Russia’s invasion still ongoing, causing chaos in Ukraine, her family hasn’t left the western part of the country.
A situation they tell her, doesn’t get an easier.
“They don’t feel any safer or more at ease at all,” said Gorchynsky Trapani. “They always just say we’re the same terrified, scared and knowing that everything’s unsure.”
Previous owner of the shop Mike Felhofer came out of retirement to pour candles again.
Working 40 hour weeks, he says he’s not the only one wanting to volunteer.
“On any given day we have to limit to 6 to 10 cause we have limited space. But we’ve got a roster of people who have come in already .”
With the first donation coming just a short while ago, the next one is coming today. And it’s expected to be more than the initial $125,000.
The charity receiving the funds – Razom for Ukraine – has been putting the money to good use.
“One of the things was buying drones to help drop medical supplies in Ukraine and buying insulin if they can’t get their medications or other medications,” said Gorchynsky Trapani. “And it’s just been incredible to see how those donations are actually being used.”
Gorchynsky Trapani saying though it’s hard, they will keep pouring candles for as long as people are willing to support Ukraine.
