PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A popular Center City bar is doing its part to help the people of Ukraine with a fundraiser this weekend.
In the window planters outside of McGillin's Olde Ale House on 13th and Drury streets, customers have been greeted by sunflowers, the official flower of Ukraine. McGillin's owner Chris Mullins said watching the war compelled him to do something to help.
"The Russians have done this before in Georgia. They did it to the Crimea. They did it in Syria," he said. So he decided to raise money for the people of Ukraine by donating a portion of the weekend's beer sales to UNICEF, to aid the recovery effort and help the children of Ukraine.
For Mullins, who considers himself an amateur student of history, it doesn't matter that Ukraine is so far away.
"We can't stand on the sideline. We did it for a long time in the Second World War," he said.
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"When Hitler invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, it was the official start of the Second World War and the greatest diaspora in European history. We thought that was behind us. And now the diaspora that's going to result is frightening."
McGillin's day manager Kerry Henry expected a weekend in March, with Philadelphia mask mandates lifted, to bring in good sales.
"Philadelphia, we don't really just have St. Patrick's Day. We have Irish month, all of March. Lots and lots of people going out and pub crawls. And it's always a great day. People come out in droves. They spend money," said Henry.
Mullins said he expects to raise several thousand dollars for the cause.
"I hate to see war," he said. "I would prefer peace and freedom in Ukraine, but you know, these folks have a right to defend their homeland."
Learn more about traditional Ukrainian food on the Jawncast:
