Ukraine Fundraiser In Stillwater Nets $6K For Relief Efforts

STILLWATER, MN — More than 150 people gathered Wednesday night at the Water Street Inn in Stillwater to support Ukrainians in their fight against the Russian military's continued invasion.

The fundraiser brought in almost $6,000 in donations for Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, which is sending that money to Ukraine for food and medical supplies, as well as protective gear for Ukrainian civilians that have taken up arms in defense, according to Stephani Atkins, who organized the event.

The money raised in Stillwater will also help to purchase vehicles to be used as makeshift medical transports to remove wounded soldiers from battlefields.

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Atkins told about 175 people at the fundraiser that she “felt sick to my stomach” after learning Russia had invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. She said she knew she had to help but didn’t know how.

“What can I, Stephani Atkins, from Stillwater, Minnesota, do?” Atkins said during the event.

Then she remembered her former graduate school professor, Paul Gavrilyuk, and reached out about organizing a small event to learn more about relief efforts in Ukraine.

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The event was initially meant to be in Atkins’ condo, but interest continued to grow over the following days, leading Atkins to seek another venue.

That’s when Water Street Inn owner Chuck Dougherty stepped in and graciously offered up the inn’s boardroom for the fundraiser. But interest in the event continued to climb, pushing the fundraiser into the inn’s main ballroom, Atkins said, thanking Dougherty and those who showed up.

Atkins said she was “amazed” by the number of people who came to the fundraiser and how many people from different political backgrounds united in support of Ukrainians and their fight for freedom.

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"We talk about how polarized we are; we talk about how we’re so different; we talk about the fraying of the American fabric," Atkins said. "But I'd like to say tonight, as Americans, we care. We care. We care about ourselves, we care about our country, and we care about others."

Atkins said she plans to help Gavrilyuk with ongoing fundraising efforts to help him reach more people and provide more relief to Ukrainians.