Door County Candle owner reflects on anniversary of Russia-Ukraine war, fundraising efforts

STURGEON BAY – This past month marked the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a war that continues to this day.

Two days later marked a related anniversary for Door County Candle Co., an anniversary its co-owner was surprised to reach and hoping to mark in a different way.

Under the impetus of owner Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani, a second-generation, 100% Ukrainian-American, the Sturgeon Bay-based business began selling blue-and-yellow Ukraine Candles Feb. 26, 2022, to raise funds for humanitarian relief help for people in that war-torn country.

With worldwide attention given to the war and not just local but national media coverage of the Ukraine Candle effort, the fundraiser was an immediate success. In two years, sales of that candle have raised more than $1 million.

But while the fundraiser has been successful, Trapani, who has relatives in Ukraine, said that's overshadowed by the fact that the war continues and conditions for people living in Ukraine remain very difficult.

"It's hard to believe we've hit two years," Trapani said, "hard to believe we're here. A lot of people said, oh, it'll just be a few days, Ukraine will win this. I wanted to believe it, but … I was hoping in two years, we'd be raising money to rebuild."

Ukraine Candle fundraising has slowed a lot in the last few months, Trapani said, although interest picked up around the two-year anniversary of the war. Part of the reason is that the war in Ukraine isn't at the forefront of as many people's minds as it was when it started two years ago, as other national and worldwide disasters and event have taken place.

Door County Candle also found itself creating new candles to hold fundraisers for some of those events, such as the wildfires that ravaged the Hawaiian island of Maui, the earthquake that destroyed parts of Turkey and Syria and Hurricane Ian striking Florida. The company also launched Candles Creating Change, a series of candles to raise funds for area nonprofit organizations.

"It was hard, because we all care about the cause," Trapani said about Ukraine drifting away from the limelight. "But a lot of causes out there need attention, and causes tend to fall by the wayside. I was happy to see it come back in (around the anniversary)."

However, the recent anniversary of the war might signal the resuscitation of another Door County Candle sale to benefit people in Ukraine.

The company started Tin Candles for Ukraine in November of 2022. The candles aren't meant to raise funds for Ukrainian relief, but instead to be bought by customers, donated to the country and used for light (and even a little bit of heat) in the many places where electricity has been knocked out. The candles are in a tin case instead of Door County Candle's usual glass jar to ensure they won't get damaged, and written underneath the company logo on the label in Ukrainian script is "Glory to Ukraine!" considered the national salute and slogan of its sovereignty and resistance.

The Tin Candles effort opened with an initial run of about 2,000, but more than 15,000 were sold and sent to Ukraine by the time the effort ended in March of 2023.

"It definitely took over our winter production," Trapani said.

Razom for Ukraine, a nonprofit organization that distributed funds from Ukraine Candle sales, also distributed the tin candles. But Trapani said the group's focus is on providing humanitarian aid, so it stepped away from distributing the Tin Candles, ending the effort.

However, Trapani learned some tins still are finding their way into the hands of Ukrainian soldiers and being put to good use. On the second anniversary of the war, she received photos and videos from Ukraine showing troops using them as a source of light and warmth in their bunkers. The soldiers also are using the fragrance from the candles to overcome the smell of mice and burning wood that is prevalent daily in the bunkers and as part of memorials for others who have died in the war.

"Oh my gosh, the tin is a whole other emotion," Trapani said, "because we're actually seeing videos of soldiers with the tins, thanking us. On the two-year anniversary, we got these photos and videos, saw the tins used by soldiers and people saying 'Glory to Ukraine.' It is their source of light in their bunkers. It's so heartwarming. It's been very, very special."

Trapanin said she's hoping the briefly renewed interest in Ukraine from the anniversary will help Door County Candle find a partner that can resume delivery of the tin candles in Ukraine.

"We're hoping to bring back the tins," Trapani said. "We're hoping the two-year anniversary might bring back the interest."

For more information, visit the Door County Candle store, 5789 State 42, Sturgeon Bay; call 920-746-2125; or visit doorcountycandle.com or the "Door County Candle Company" Facebook page.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.

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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Door County Candle owner reflects on anniversary of Russia-Ukraine war, fundraising efforts