BRATTLEBORO — On the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, siblings Kerry Secrest, Honorary Consul of Lithuania to Vermont, and Christian Stromberg, owner of Saxtons River Distillery, are holding a casual fundraiser on Friday, Feb. 24, from 5 to 7:30 p.m, at Saxtons Distillery, 155 Chickering Drive.
The event is free. Patrons are asked to come in solidarity with Ukraine, buy a drink, and make a donation of any amount.
“Russia is preparing for a brutal spring offensive. To help save Ukrainian lives and to mark a year since the beginning of this illegal invasion, I invite you to participate in the Lithuanian-led grassroots campaign to raise $10 million to purchase much-needed radar,” Secrest said in a news release.
According to Secrest, Ukraine has been working with old Soviet-produced radars not designed to detect or track small and low-flying objects. The funds raised during the campaign will be used to purchase multi-functional tactical radars.
At this event, Stromberg will have his new product, Snowdrop Vodka, available for purchase. He developed a new spirit that honored his family's Eastern European heritage during a time of unrest in the region, and 50 percent of the profit will support Ukraine via the nonprofit Blue/Yellow USA. To date, he has raised over $3,000.
“People often feel powerless watching this war from the sidelines,” Secrest said. “This campaign is an important and timely opportunity to act locally in order to save lives in this fight for democracy in Ukraine and the world. The outcome of this war will have ripple effects on the future of colonial imperialism, tyranny and the rule of law, and nuclear proliferation. We cannot get tired, which is what Putin hopes the West will do.”
To register for the free event, visit bit.ly/3YGRNT3. To donate, visit foblueyellowukraineusa.org (for this radar campaign, in the company line write: Radar-VT). To learn more, see lithuaniavermont.com.