By Eileen Persike, Editor

RHINELANDER – In a little more than two months, a local effort to raise money to assist the citizens of Ukraine has blown its $10,000 goal out of the water.

As of June 1, $24,916 has been donated to the Kiwanis Club of Rhinelander Ukraine relief effort.

Ryan Hetland, a Rhinelander Kiwanian, formed a partnership of sorts with the president of Kiwanis International-Europe and made arrangements to send all money raised to the Kiwanis Luxembourg Foundation. This foundation is the funding source of Kiwanis clubs in Easter Europe that border Ukraine and provides food, shelter and clothing for Ukrainians.

The first installment, $15,000 was wired to the Luxembourg Kiwanis Foundation in Europe in April.

“We are thrilled to live in a community that cares and is willing to help total strangers across the planet that they will never meet,” Hetland told the Star Journal. “That is pretty awesome.”

Hetland added the Rhinelander Kiwanis has set a new goal of $30,000. Donations are being accepted at local businesses, including Peoples State Bank in Rhinelander, YMCA of the Northwoods, LaSalle St. Securities, Animal Health Care Center, Habitat for Humanity ReStore and Ripco Credit Union. Checks may be mailed to Rhinelander Kiwanis, PO Box 613 in Rhinelander. Visit the club’s Facebook page for more information.

Pictured above, the Kiwanis Club of Rhinelander has raised almost $25,000 to date for Ukranian relief. The club wired $15,000 to a partner organization in Europe in April and has set a new goal of $30,000. Photo courtesy Kiwanis Club of Rhinelander. From left, Kiwanians Ryan Hetland and Stephanie Dahlquist, and Jill Whittacker from Peoples Bank.