CORTEZ – It was another big success for the effort to raise money for the people of Ukraine as Bob Slicker, owner of Slicker’s Eatery, sold out his latest fundraising event while also celebrating his 60th birthday.
The Trolley for Peace on Aug. 13 traveled to four local restaurants and bars. For a ticket price of $75, riders rode two trolleys that made stops at R.J. Gators, Slicker’s Eatery, Clancy’s Irish Pub and 88 Live Piano Bar. In addition to the funds raised from the price of the trip, each bar had a raffle giveaway to help raise even more money for the war relief effort in Ukraine.
“After the last event, the Concert for Peace, I thought gosh, what’s the next thing we’re going to do,” Slicker said. “I knew my birthday was coming up. Today is actually my 60th birthday and I always like to do some sort of thing for charity on my birthday and this year it happened to coincide with our campaign for Ukraine.”
Slicker says this effort wouldn’t be possible without the help of the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island. After meeting the Rotary members when they held a meeting at Slicker’s Eatery earlier this year, the relationship quickly grew into an effort that has sent tens of thousands of dollars to assist in relief efforts in Ukraine. Desperately needed items such as refrigerators, washing machines and medical supplies are being delivered to people who are living with virtually nothing in a war zone. Relationships with Rotary clubs in Poland and Ukraine make it possible to not only assure the funds are accounted for, but the supplies are able to be physically delivered where they are needed most.
Slicker recently visited Poland and Ukraine, meeting some of the people affected by the war firsthand.
“We visited flats where they have as many as seven people living in one apartment and they are allowed one shelf per flat in the communal refrigerators,” Slicker said. “Imagine having only one shelf in a fridge for an entire large family, but they are very grateful to even have that. We want to buy more fridges, more washers and dryers. We have a lot more to do.”
The Concert for Peace in June raised more than $50,000 and, while the totals are not yet in for the Trolley for Peace, Slicker expects this event to exceed $10,000 additional dollars, 100% of which will go to send supplies to the people of Ukraine. In addition to the multiple refugee centers they are working with, Slicker says they want to help provide some bulletproof vests to those in the most dangerous areas in addition to the refrigerators and other needed items.
AMI Rotary President Jim McDaniel echoed Slicker’s assessment that things in the region have been getting more difficult in recent weeks.
“We’re getting word that things are getting tougher over there from the president of the Rotary in Poland,” McDaniel said. “No matter what we do, we feel like it’s just not enough. We just want to do more.”
McDaniel just sent another $10,000 to the Poland Rotary to distribute supplies and the duo has no intentions of slowing down local fundraising efforts.
Slicker said plans for another Concert for Peace are in the works for early 2023. He also encourages anyone who wants to help to raise money to host their own homegrown efforts such as a party where guests donate to the relief effort or to donate privately with family and friends. For a QR code that allows you to donate directly to the Rotary, visit Slicker’s Eatery online or on Facebook.
