La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

Ukraine is literally at death’s door and needs help. I have friends and distant family members that are in Kiyv. I was contacted by the very lovely and very caring Ms. Jean Wedin, who suggested we start a community fundraiser for Ukraine. As a young person growing up in London during the Nazi bombing of World War II, she knows very well the terrors and fear that the Ukrainian people are going through now.

I did not need to be convinced and immediately began thinking of how to start this fund. With the great help of Tami Mason at Washington Federal bank, I opened an account.

The first three depositors were Jean Wedin, Joyce and Stuart Welch and myself. Jean, Joyce and Stuart were extremely generous! All good efforts usually have “hiccups.” Our first was that the bank account had to be opened in my name with the subtitle “La Conner Ukraine Relief Fund.” Write that in the memo line.

Next was getting the word out for the local public to know the effort was being made. I started with an initial post on the LAC Community Facebook page, which I “thought” was a natural place, but again, hiccups. The page administrators decided they could not post more details due to their “policy” against Go Fund me efforts. So much for “Community.”

I then posted on “Nextdoor.com and my own Facebook page and the donations have started coming in, including some locals, my car club members, relatives and friends. After only four business days the fund is approaching $1,500. It will not save the world but it will help. The Weekly News is donating $100.

Wedin, Welch and I have agreed to award the balance at the end of March to a reputable, certified Ukrainian help organization: IRC, Mercy Corps, etc.

Please help us or give directly to the charity of your choice!

They need our help.

Guidelines from Washington Federal: Make checks payable to John Leaver. Write in the memo line “La Conner Ukraine Relief Fund.”