Local leaders project peace for Ukraine

How to keep the people of Ukraine in mind as most of us live safe, secure lives 5,500 miles away?

The Olympia Tumwater Foundation is projecting a 100-foot-high peace symbol, in the blue and yellow of Ukraine’s flag, against the wall of one of the old Olympia Brewing Company buildings. You can see it most evenings if you’re driving north on Interstate 5 or Capitol Boulevard from 8 to 10 p.m.

It’s a collaboration with O Bee Credit Union and the display was the brainchild of Lee Wojnar, vice president of marketing at O Bee Credit Union and president of the board of trustees of the Olympia Tumwater Foundation. About a dozen years ago he used a different kind of projector to light up the historic Old Brew House building, just down the hill from the “new” brewery.

“It's a sad situation, what's happening over there, and … we get distracted so easily. And I wanted to always keep that top of mind,” Wojnar told The JOLT.  

More than marveling at the high-tech LED-powered light display, O Bee has been encouraging its members and the broader community to contribute safely to organizations that are supporting refugees from Ukraine, millions of whom are now spread across several countries in eastern Europe. 

Here’s the link they recommend, to CharityWatch, a watchdog organization that serves donors to charitable organizations. On that page, CharityWatch recommends 21 organizations that support refugees.