NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The goal for Zack and Mira Clobes for their Unite with Ukraine event is an opportunity for people to help while trying to keep the mood positive, which is why they are holding it at Salt City Brewery on July 16. Mira Clobes family is from the more mountainous, western part of the nation.
"My family has been relatively away from that," Mira Clobes said. "All the fighting is concentrated in the east and the south right now."
However, her mother and sister did have to leave the country for their safety and are currently living in the Czech Republic. As her father is of military age, he was not allowed to leave, for Zack, it's another chance to remind the community that they are part of a bigger world.
"We're in a global economy and this is a global crisis," Zack Clobes said. "It's often referred to as genocide. There is an aggressive nation out there that is trying to take what is not theirs. They've made no secret about it."
Donations that night will benefit Medical Aid and the Rebuilding of Ukraine, through the UNITED24 charity foundation. According to their website, UNITED24 was launched by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the main venue for collecting charitable donations in support of Ukraine. Mira Clobes believes Zelenskyy's leadership has been important thus far.
"He has become, I think, my hero, personally and then all of Ukraine's hero," Mira Clobes said. "His stubbornness, I think really helped Ukraine stay strong, because they know that their president is supporting them and is not hiding or anything like that. He is openly walking the streets all the time, making it known that he is not leaving Ukraine or its people. I am so proud of him, and I am proud that the people of Ukraine chose him as president."
Funds will be transferred to the official accounts of the National Bank of Ukraine and allocated by assigned ministries to cover the most pressing needs. Many local businesses have come together to provide raffle items for the fundraiser. The event will begin at 5 p.m. that evening at Salt City at 514 North Main. It can be a come and go event, you do not have to be present to win, just provide your phone number if you win one of the drawings. The Excuses band will play at 7 p.m. that night.