Originally, thought semi-retired Vernon teacher and woodwork fan Dan Dueck, the cedar stars he was making in his shop would be a great ornament.
At Christmas.
But when Dueck’s wife, Cullie, suggested the blue one Dan painted be joined by a yellow one…
Dueck knew where Cullie was going with the suggestion. Stars for Ukraine.
So now, Dueck is making blue and yellow cedar stars, hoping to sell them in pairs for $175 to raise funds for Ukraine.
“Watching the news (about the invasion by Russia), I knew I wanted to do something,” said Dueck, 66. “I had already contributed financially. I started making these as my skill set is working with wood.
“I thought if I made them, I can do a fundraiser for the Red Cross. Any money I make goes to the Red Cross to help support Ukraine.”
Dueck grew up in Cold Lake, Alta., where there are a “lot of Ukrainians around,” he smiled.
“The second thing I thought was, we are starting to get refugees from Ukraine and wouldn’t it be neat if they came here and were going around town and saw blue and yellow stars hanging up. One person already commented to me that a mother had come over from Ukraine, saw my stars and was very touched.”
It takes Dueck two-to-three days to make four stars. So far he’s made about a dozen and given some away to family.
“Those I sell, money goes right off the top to the Red Cross,” he said. “And once the bills are paid for my materials, whatever excess is left will be donated. I’m doing this totally as a fundraiser and to bring out more awareness.”
The stars are quality made, and Dueck said the backs of the stars are stained so the ornament is multi-purpose.
“When the Ukrainian issue settles down, you can have a beautiful star for Christmas,” he said. “You can put lights around them.”
To order the stars or for more information, contact Dueck at dandueck07@gmail.com or text him at 778-212-7720.
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