Eagan Residents Raise $15K For Ukraine

EAGAN, MN — An Eagan woman and her two daughters raised nearly $15,000 in emergency relief for Ukraine through a fundraising dinner and an online fundraiser.

Eagan resident Jennifer Smith and daughters Polly Bilski and Jamie Hopkins hosted "Varenyky Dinner Fundraiser for Ukraine" on March 6 at Advent UMC Church, according to a news release sent out by Hopkins. The dinner was attended by over 150 Eagan and other Greater Metro residents, the she said.

Attendees donated $25 in exchange for a plate of Ukrainian varenyky(similar to pierogies and other dumplings), the news release said. 30 Eagan residents volunteered to help make the varenyky and around $7,000 was raised from the dinner alone. The rest of the total amount came from an additional online fundraiser, according to the news release.

"The generosity of the guests was amazing," Smith said. "We asked for a $25 donation and instead, 150 guests managed to raise $7,000 at this event alone. Everyone seemed so anxious to help Ukraine anyway they could."

According to Hopkins, the funds will be sent to two different organizations that are being heavily vetted by her and the other event organizers: Ukraine-based nonprofit ISAR/Ednannia and US-based nonprofit Nova Ukraine.

Hopkins said she was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine from 1996-98 and has also worked to help build democracy in the country.

"Ukraine has hosted over 3,500 Peace Corps volunteers since 1992 and we are all spread across the country doing what we can to help our friends and colleagues back in Ukraine," Hopkins said.