Door County Candle expands its fundraising efforts to aid other nonprofits, charities
STURGEON BAY - Over the past 14 months, Door County Candle Co. has raised more than $1 million for several charitable relief efforts by selling scented candles made specifically for the fundraising, notably its now world-famous Ukraine Candles.
And now, you don't need to buy a specially made candle to make a contribution to help someone in need.
Friday, Door County Candle launched its Candles Creating Change mission. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of any scented wax product made by the Carlsville-based company – not just its candles but scented wax melts and other nice-smelling items – will be donated to a variety of designated American-based nonprofit and charitable organizations throughout the year.
"I'm super-excited, really giddy about it," owner Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani said. "It's a huge step."
The mission is more than an extension of the Ukraine Candle effort that Trapani, a second-generation Ukrainian-American, launched at the end of February 2022 to fund relief help for people in Ukraine after it was invaded by Russian forces. To date, thanks in part to national news stories about it, sales of that candle around the world have raised more than $1 million for emergency relief help in that country through the Razom for Ukraine agency.
But Trapani has said in past interviews with the Advocate that she and her husband, Nic, have had the idea of using their candles for fundraisers since they bought the business in 2021. The unexpected, widespread success of the Ukraine Candle lit the spark to widen their charitable offerings.
"It really feels full circle," Trapani said. "Starting the Ukraine Candle and seeing what an impact it made was truly astonishing. From that point forward, it was all about, how can we make an impact with our candles? Now, any time someone has one of our products in their hands, they know they're making an impact."
The candle maker followed the Ukraine fundraiser, which is ongoing, with several other fundraising efforts over the past few months.
In October, Door County Candle launched a Beachside Candle that raised more than $14,300 for people on the Gulf Coast of Florida affected by Hurricane Ian. In February, the company brought out a Hope Candle whose profits went to UNICEF to provide humanitarian and developmental aid to children in areas of Turkey and Syria devastated by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck those countries; that candle has raised more than $8,100.
The company last fall also made and sold Tin Candles for Ukraine, which people bought to have shipped to that war-ravaged country as a source of light and perhaps heat, and has a Thank You Poland Candle to recognize that country's help in offering aid to Ukrainians, with proceeds from it also going to Razom for Ukraine.
Now, Trapani will be busy pairing all the scented candles and scented wax products the company makes with a range of organizations that could use the funds. She said there will be four categories: In Response To, for sudden and emergency situations; one where local nonprofits can nominate a worthy person and group; one for 501(c)(3) nonprofits; and a general charitable category.
"So many people felt the impact (of the previous fundraising candles)," Trapani said. "It's exciting because we're going to work to find impactful nonprofits. It'll be great that we can support many, many causes."
For candles or more information, visit the Door County Candle store, 5789 State 42, Sturgeon Bay; call 920-746-2125; or visit doorcountycandle.com or the "Door County Candle Company" Facebook page.
Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.
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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Door County Candle near Sturgeon Bay expands its fundraising efforts
