Richboro Business Owner To Co-Host Humanitarian Fundraiser For Ukraine

HOLLAND, PA — A Richboro business owner will be co-hosting a humanitarian fundraiser to benefit the people of Ukraine on Saturday.

Vitalia "Vita" Vygovska, the owner of drapery workroom Vitalia, Inc. Window Treatments, will be one of several Ukrainian-born local residents to host the "Art for Peace: A Fundraiser for Ukrainian Refugees" fundraiser. The event will be held at Randevu Restaurant, located at 111 Buck Rd. in Holland, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Vygovska was joined by other Ukrainian-born citizens in her efforts to help refugees in her home country. Yelena Galitskaya, Natasha Karpenko, and Kat Beregovaia have worked with Vygovska to set up the event.

"What can I do to help?" Vygovska said. "It’s the question that I ask myself, as I try to make sense of the current situation. It’s devastating to know people you love are in danger and have lost everything. But what could I do that would make a real difference? That’s when I found Stella’s House, a vetted charity working directly with Ukrainian refugees, and I knew we could raise money to help support their needs."

The event will be held as a market fair for artists and craftspeople to sell their works. Attendees can meet the artists and buy their creations.

“Over 25 local artists have very generously donated tons of their beautiful work for the cause, and have created work just for this event,” said Vita. “Many of the donated items and works of art would be perfect Mother’s Day gifts.”

Items that will be donated for the event include fresh, professionally-made flower bouquets, paintings in various sizes and styles, ceramics, hand-made jewelry and accessories, silk flower arrangements, hand-made crafts, hand-painted greeting cards, and more.

The event was made in collaboration with Stella's House, a charity organization that is providing humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees in Kharkov, Kiev, and Moldova. 100% of the proceeds will go to the organization to aid its efforts in helping refugees, according to a statement from Vitalia, Inc.

"Over the course of the past two months, I’ve supported many official well-known charities. I’ve also supported many very small initiatives, often run by my friends (or friends of friends) that don’t have any official standing," Vygovska said. "I was happy to do it because it was much more personal than donating to a large organization, but I wasn’t quite comfortable enough to pass it onto anyone else. Now, I found a charity that is small and personal, yet it’s an official 501 (c ) (3) based in the United States."

Tickets cost $10 if bought in advance. At-the-door tickets cost $15, and children 12 and under can enter for free. Home-made Ukrainian food will be up for sale at the event. For those who cannot attend the event, donations can be made to Stella's House; commenting “Art For Peace Philly” alongside your donation will let the organization know it was in relation to the Bucks County event.

As native Ukrainians, the organizers are confident that the event will be a unique and effective effort in aiding those displaced by the recent Ukraine-Russia conflict. Vygovska herself hopes that the art market will raise awareness of the issues in her home country while simultaneously aiding those in need.

“This is an important need, and we are ready to help."