BEAVER, Pa. — On a sunny Friday afternoon, laughter filled the streets of downtown Beaver. It was a stark contrast to the images coming from across the world.
“They don’t have nowhere to eat, nowhere to go and my heart broke,” said Emmanuel Panagiotakis, who owns a photography business in Beaver.
Panagiotakis is 4,879 miles from the Russian invasion, but it’s not stopping him from helping.
“Because I’m a human. You go through so much in your life. We are here living in the best country in the world, next thing you know you see these people dying. Normal people like us,” Panagiotakis said.
He has already raised over $1600 and is now partnering with 16 other Beaver businesses to donate a portion of Saturday’s profits to St. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ambridge.
“The gratitude you can’t explain it or the heartfelt feeling it’s amazing. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude,” said Sister Ann Laszok with the church.
The money from the Beaver County community is going to a Beaver County church, where it is then sent through a personal connection to a bishop in Poland to help refugees in need on the border.
“If I was 30 years younger I would be over there probably making Molotov cocktails. I mean praying while I do it but I would try to be right there because it’s just all very difficult,” Sister Laszok said.
If you want to help by shopping local this Saturday, the following businesses are participating:
— Sangha Center Yoga
— Beavtown
— Courtney Laughlin Frame Studio & Gallery
— Kathleen’s
— Boutique No. 443
— Cirelli’s Fine Jewelry
— Two Rivers Olive Oil Company
— Sieger’s Jewelers
— Miller’s Shoes
— Castletoys and Games
— Shirley Shoppe
— The Hostess Gift Shoppe
— Allan Jewelers
— Wildwood Boutique
— Mario’s woodfired Restaurant
— Emmanuel Fine Art Photography
— Don’s Deli
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