STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
J. McLaughlin has become the latest local business to raise money for Ukrainians, who are enduring bombardment from above.
The dress shop will donate 15 percent of its proceeds from today’s sales to World Central Kitchen’s humanitarian efforts in the European country. World Central Kitchen has served a million meals to families across Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova and Hungary.
Store Manager Sarah Howe called it a small way the store and its patrons can help out.
Like so many, we’ve been watching the news out of Ukraine in horror, thinking about how we might help, from afar,” said Howe. “We learned of one heart-warming story amidst the tragedy that we love and think our Sun Valley neighbors will, too. It’s the work of World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit with boots on the ground in Poland, Ukraine and neighboring countries, feeding hot and healthy meals to literally millions of refugees.”
The store will hold its Sip and Shop from noon to 4 p.m. today—Friday, March 18, at 520 E. 4th St. in Ketchum. Complimentary gift wrap and shipping is available.
- Bigwood Bread Bakery and Café has raised $182,000 for Ukraine so far with the help of matching donations from the business, said Owner George Golleher.
Customers have made contributions ranging from a few dollars up to $10,000. Bigwood Bread originally pledged to match all donations up to $50,000 but increased that match to $75,000, Golleher said.
“People in our valley have been very generous,” said Golleher. “About half of the $182,000 is already in Ukraine and the balance will be sent Friday.”
The Ketchum business began a fundraising campaign to raise money for three medical relief organizations supplying aid to Ukrainians last week.
Bigwood Bread and its employees are matching dollar for dollar donations made to GlobalGiving for its Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, Doctors Without Borders-Ukraine and International Committee of the Red Cross-Ukraine.
Donations can be made directly to the organizations with the receipt provided to Bigwood Bread at office@bigwoodbread.com so the donation can be matched. Or, donations may be dropped off at the café at 271 Northwood Way in Ketchum’s light industrial district.
For more information, go to https://bigwoodbread.com/ukrainerelieffund