POCATELLO On Saturday, Aug. 23, Pocatello will host Lights the Wells at Downtown Lookout Point at 7 p.m., a community celebration of generosity and global friendship.
As organizer Lena Contor gets ready to visit Ukraine to see the effects for herself, the event showcases how local fundraising has changed life there.
Since the Russian invasion started in 2022, Contor, a Ukrainian-born activist, humanitarian, and cultural organizer who now resides in Pocatello, has led numerous assistance initiatives.
Contor helped raise $27,000 in Pocatello earlier this year to buy solar lights, but she couldn’t get rid of the idea that the funds should be put toward something else.
RELATED: Pocatello’s World Refugee Day ceremony will bring cultures together
RELATED: A documentary about the war in Ukraine will be shown for free at the Bengal Theater. A Belief Under Attack
Fortunately, I found out about a border-side community where a dam was blasted, causing flooding and affecting roughly 40,000 people, Contor added. They needed to learn how to live. I knew we had to concentrate on this.
The timing is remarkable. “This is the answer,” she continued, “and the Lord knew, and I knew with every cell in my body.”
In Novovorontsovka, a war-torn community where the water system was damaged and energy is still in short supply, the funds were instead used to fund two solar-powered wells. DoTerra, a private corporation, matched the donation, financing a third well and broadening the project’s scope even more.
More than 4,500 Novovorontsovka inhabitants now have access to clean water and dependable electricity, making the endeavor a lifeline. Following the discovery of sealed wells that may be reopened on historical maps, the wells are a part of a bigger network of seven stations being built.
Contor has returned to Ukraine nine times since the invasion to give relief, including food, medical supplies, and solar lights. She will set out on her tenth adventure next week.
Contor stated, “I will be in Ukraine next week delivering humanitarian aid to those who lost their homes due to the war.” I’ll stop by the Novovorontsovka neighborhood while I’m there to join them in celebrating the opening of the solar-powered wells that our Pocatello community made possible. To express gratitude to Pocatello, the Ukrainian community created a huge plaque that will be displayed near each well.
Contor acknowledged that she is anxious about going so near the front lines, but she is adamant that she should go represent her Idaho town and witness the advancements firsthand. Additionally, as a token of friendship, she will be presenting pins featuring Pocatello’s city insignia, which were provided to her by Mayor Brian Blad’s office.
Giving and doing something for individuals who are so appreciative is really fulfilling, she said.
Locals may celebrate these successes and help with future improvements by participating in Saturday’s Lights the Wells event. Druids Heathen Saints will perform live, there will be activities, Ukrainian sweets for sale, and a chance to write encouraging comments that Contor will personally deliver to Ukrainian families. The earnings from the event will go toward humanitarian help.
Attendees will also get the opportunity to electronically connect with the mayor of Novovorontsovka, and a new movie chronicling the project’s progress will be unveiled.
The money collected on Saturday will be used to power a second well, and doTerra has promised to once more double community donations.
Because it was just before my departure to Ukraine, this event was impromptu and quite hectic for me. However, I felt strongly that this event was necessary. According to Contor, this is additional proof that the choice was the right one.
Additionally, the commemoration falls on Ukraine’s Independence Day, highlighting the theme of resiliency and solidarity. The event, according to its organizers, demonstrates how a little Idaho town can have a significant impact on the world.
Follow the event on Facebook for additional details.
