MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Several community members are coming together in Morgantown Wednesday night for a night of music, food and chances to win prizes to benefit Ukraine.
Since the Russian invasion began the local group has been holding events and sending money and supplies to the war torn country and refugees, according to Lisa Dibartolomeo, a WVU professor and coordinator for the Slavic and East European Studies Program.
“We’ve been able to send over $16,000, so hopefully we’ll be able to up that ante a little bit and help the people of Ukraine,” Dibartolomeo said.
The event will be held at 123 Pleasant Street in downtown Morgantown. Tickets are $10, the doors open at 7 p.m. and music begins at 7:45 p.m.
Dibartolomeo has been to the region before and has a co-worker that is currently on the ground. Coverage of the war has diminished from daily coverage to sporadic reports seemingly when large-scale tragedies occur, she said.
“It’s still happening everyday, people are dying everyday,” Dibartolomeo said. “It’s important to keep the attention of people on the refugees and the people that are standing up for their country.”
Since the beginning of the war there have been numerous vigils, outreach events and fundraisers. Dibartolomeo said through that effort they have sent a variety of support supplies including shovels- she said the shovels have been used to dig trenches for protection and also dig fellow citizens from rubble.
“We sent money for medical kits, some of the money sent was for walkie-talkies so local units could communicate with one another better,” Dibartolomeo said.
She said the donations are very important to the people of Ukraine and their morale as the conflict grinds on.
“It’s way for them to remember they are not forgotten and that people from as far away as Morgantown, West Virginia are keeping them in their thoughts and are on their side.”
The event includes performances by the Popshop Presents, The Mixups, Ted Kisko Trio, Pants Queen, Better Off as Animals, The Tom Batchelor Band and KAMI Presents: TIRED.
The event is also supported by The Grind, Phoenix Bakery, Quantum Bean, Table 9, Gene’s Beer Garden, Von Blaze, Casey’s Cauldron, BC Mac, Mario’s Fishbowl, Puglioni’s Pasta, Blonde Salon and Torch and Dagger Tattoo.