Petoskey – Petoskey's first Presbyterian Church is looking for volunteers who can put together light kits that can be sent to Ukraine later this month.
From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 18, the church will welcome the people in their hall to work together to gather complete solar light kits designed by New Vision Renewable Energy.
Ryan Donahoe, pastor in the first Presbyterian Church of Petoskey, said the church was committed to effort because he has a friend who has been doing humanitarian work in Romania, Moldova and Ukraine for almost 20 years.
Each Light kit costs 135 US dollars in parts and shipping. The church still accepts donations for the initiative.
The church helped build up rechargeable batteries that fit with the light kits. Donahoe said the batteries were charged in sunlight for eight hours. The kits are designed in such a way that people who are caught in their basements deliver light overnight and give them the opportunity to charge their telephone batteries.
Those who work on assembling the kits can also leave encouragement notes.
According to a press release, almost 2,000 batteries have already been gathered by the church. Donahoe said that his father, Rick Donahoe, was a retired engineer and helped build the batteries and train several members of the church as being put together.
“Our plan is to continue (light kits) as long as people need people there,” said Donahoe.
The batteries are sent to other churches and organizations across the country to be included in the finished light kits.
For the event on September 18, the church will welcome people to put together 100 light kits that the church has already collected for sale. No training is required and people are available to teach people how to put together the kits.
“Some of the first Presbyterian church of Petoskey is that we were very committed to the community in Petoskey and have helped various organizations and individuals in the city, but also recognize that our connection is all over the world,” said Donahoe. “To think about the people of Ukraine … they hope to let them know that they will not forget that there are people who are aware of who they are and what they are going through and think of them. It helps us to connect us with our siblings on the far side of the world.”
– Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Karlygrahamjrn.