Et Cetera Thrift Shop, 327 N. Main, held a fundraiser on Monday, February 28 with all shopping proceeds for the day and donations made specifically for this purpose going to the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Ukraine Emergency Response. Shop manager Chrissy Lugibihl reports that the store sent over $3,000 to MCC.

Lugibihl noted that one visitor came with a memorial gift directed to the charity of the family’s choice. Some shoppers rounded up the amount of their purchase and others dropped off checks.

The Et Cetera Shop also posted a musical “Prayer of the Children” sung on the third floor of the shop by Ray Raeburn, Darryl Nester, Jeff Boehr, Doug Luginbill and Jeff Lugibihl. (View on Facebook.)

On its website, MCC details the program, saying, “On February 24, Russian military forces began an invasion of Ukraine by land, sea and air. Missiles struck several major cities in Ukraine, including the capital city Kyiv. Casualties continue to grow as Russian soldiers enter the country.

MCC is accepting donations for a response in Ukraine. We are assessing the changing situation with local partners to determine the appropriate response. MCC’s response will be focused on longer-term scale up of existing programs that support vulnerable people and extending those services to internally displaced populations. It will likely include psychosocial support and trauma healing, temporary emergency housing, emergency distributions of locally purchased emergency supplies such as blankets, and distribution of food packages.”

Donations by check can still be dropped off at the Et Cetera Shop.