Chesapeake brewery owner fundraising to help Ukraine
CHESAPEAKE — Ulyana Wingard checks on her family in Ukraine every day to make sure they are safe.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Wingard said.
With her parents, two younger brothers and other family members more than 4,700 miles away in the country ravaged by war, Wingard said she feels helpless but needed to do something to help.
Born and raised in Lviv, Ukraine, Wingard immigrated to the U.S. 12 years ago.
“I’m proud that I was born in Ukraine … even though I’m now a citizen of the United States, deep in my heart I’m still Ukrainian and my heart hurts for them just as much,” Wingard said.
She had opened her business, The Garage Brewery, in Greenbrier Station in Chesapeake in July 2019.
As soon as the war started, Wingard and her staff brainstormed ways to raise money for her native country. Together, they created a blue and yellow T-shirt — Ukraine’s colors — featuring “Stand with Ukraine” on the front around the Ukrainian symbol for freedom and “Puck Futin” on the back.
The first order of 144 tees sold out within 15 minutes, she said. Another 800 followed and were gone within a day. More than $20,000 has been raised, including additional monetary donations.
All proceeds from the shirt sales go to the Ukraine’s defense ministry to support soldiers and its health ministry to help medics and wounded warriors, she said.
“What’s really amazing and beautiful about this whole thing is I’m going to be shipping these T-shirts all over the United States to people who have never been to the brewery and probably will never be, but still want to support us and Ukrainians,” Wingard said.
A second T-shirt, designed by a local artist known as Joey Nobody, is for sale for $30. On the backside of the black shirt is a blue and yellow sunflower, two Russian tanks struck by a Molotov cocktail and “Glory to Ukraine” on the sleeve.
Sarah Mitchell of Virginia Beach frequents The Garage Brewery and said she felt compelled to support the cause. She bought both shirts and has told multiple friends about the fundraiser.
“Ulyana is so supportive of our community so it’s great we can step up and return that support to her,” Mitchell said.
Wingard said she has also connected with the former head brewer of Pravda Brewery in Lviv. That brewery switched from beer production to Molotov cocktails in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Reuters.
The two will collaborate next month to make a golden ale featuring 100 pounds of beets, a common component in Ukrainian beer, Wingard said.
“That will be a fundraiser as well,” Wingard said. “I feel like I can make a difference; even though it’s probably just a drop in the ocean. I’m a strong believer that every little bit counts.”
Other Hampton Roads efforts to help Ukrainians
SpartanNash, a grocery distributor with a military division in Norfolk, reported it is donating more than $1 million worth of food and supplies to Ukrainians. The company will ship products, such as energy bars, water and personal hygiene items, with the help of the nonprofit humanitarian and disaster relief organization Convoy of Hope to ensure the items get to refugees throughout Eastern Europe.
SpartanNash also made a cash donation of $25,000 to Convoy of Hope to provide 7,500 meals to families in need. The company, which distributes products to U.S. military commissaries, has also stopped dealing with Russian-produced vodka.
Tony Sarsam, president and CEO, said in a news release that SpartanNash looks for opportunities to provide aid to those in need whenever possible.