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Three Lanesboro organizations recently held fundraising events to support Ukrainian refugees, where collectively over $12,000 was raised. Kindergartners to octogenarians, residents to visitors, all came together to make sure financial resources could be sent from Lanesboro with love to Ukrainians and those assisting refugees.
Discovery, a lay-led community fellowship, raised over $6,100 to send to Alight, a Minneapolis-based organization helping Ukrainian refugees. Discovery meets each Sunday morning at 10:30 at the Sons of Norway lodge with discussion, music, and coffee time. All are welcome.
On Thursday, April 7, 2022, the Sons of Norway Heimbygda Lodge in Lanesboro hosted their April program and invited Andrzej Zalasinski, Jr., to speak on “Thoughts of Eastern Europe.” Andrzej (ahn-jay) is executive director of the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce. He grew up in Poland and recently recorded interviews with his cousin Paweł (pah-veaw), who regularly volunteers with a refugee organization in Krakow, Poland. The organization, Szafa Dobra (the “Wardrobe of Good”) helps refugees get assistance at a refurbished shopping mall, where they provide people places to sleep, shower, eat, and play. Paweł said their greatest need right now is new socks and underwear. Approximately 60 people attended the Sons of Norway lodge meeting on April 7 and over $3,000 was raised and donated to Alight.
Also in early April, Lanesboro Public Schools held their penny fundraiser with a goal of raising $1,200 for Ukrainian refugees. Instead, they raised over $3,000 to support Ukrainian refugees.
Discovery, Sons of Norway Heimbygda Lodge, and Lanesboro Public Schools are just three examples of small-town organizations coming together to help refugees in crisis in Poland and Ukraine. For information on how to support these efforts, please visit wearealight.org or contact the Lanesboro Sons of Norway Heimbygda Lodge (507) 467-0100.