PULASKI, Wis. — The Refinery opened in Pulaski, Wis. four years ago Tuesday.
Owner Shelly Wolf used her anniversary to donate the profits of sales from the day to a fund set up to help victims and families of a bonfire explosion.
“You just want to do something, right? You’re just trying to do something to help others out and you just don’t know what to do,” she said. “That’s just what came to mind. ‘Okay, we have to do something. We have to help out. We have to give back to the community.’”
Between the sales and a donation box, she was able to give $1,000.
“We just had somebody walk in just now and drop money in the donation box,” she said Wednesday morning. “It’s just amazing.”
At least 17 young people were injured in a bonfire explosion in rural Pulaski on Friday night after an accelerant was put on the fire. Some victims received serious injuries.
While the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate what happened at the bonfire, grassroots efforts are underway to help the injured and their families.
Erika Van Roy dropped a donation in the box on Wolf’s counter Wednesday. She has a son at Pulaski High School, where some of the injured attend.
“Every little bit helps,” Van Roy said. ”Every time I see a donation bucket, I throw some money in there.”
She’s not surprised to see a groundswell of community support.
“That’s the way Pulaski works,” Van Roy said. “It’s a good little small-town community that always rallies for their people.”
Businesses and high school sports teams from surrounding communities are joining the effort.
“Everybody is just jumping in,” Wolf said. “They want to give, they want to help, they want to do whatever they can. Even if it’s just an ear for one of the parents to lean on and listen and help out.”