Cook and Bake for Ukraine
And other ways to support those impacted by the devastation of Putin's war.
At the time of writing this, over 1.7 million people have fled Ukraine and the confirmed civilian death toll has topped 350. That’s 1.7 million people who have left behind their homes, their livelihoods, and most of what holds any emotional or material value to them. And another 351 people who have lost their lives as innocent citizens.
It. Breaks. My. Heart.
This is not the first conflict or humanitarian crisis that has happened in my lifetime, and sadly, it won’t be the last. But it still crushes me, and I want to do what I can to help. Thankfully there are formidable efforts in place (and taking shape) to help the refugees of the disaster that Putin is unleashing. I’ll get right to them.
#CookForUkraine is an initiative cofounded by Alissa Timoshkina, Olia Hercules, and London’s anonymous food critic known as Clerkenwell Boy (or Tim). Aiming to increase awareness of the humanitarian crisis Ukraine (and the world) faces, as well as raise funds for the children and families displaced by this tragedy; #CookForUkraine is calling on people to cook, bake, and share Ukrainian and Eastern European-inspired dishes. They’ve provided a platform and fundraising site for anyone to participate in the movement. You can simply make a donation, or share on social media a Ukrainian dish you tried (and add the #CookForUkraine hashtag), or fundraise by hosting your own supper club or bake sale. At the very least, you’ll enjoy something delicious and raise awareness (Olia Hercules and Alissa Timoshkina both have a tempting collection of recipes to try). At the most, you’ll help fulfill the basic needs of children and families as they relocate away from violence.
In a similar effort — but based in the U.S. — pastry chef Paola Velez, who cofounded Bakers Against Racism (BAR), has helped launch a “Bake for Ukraine” effort. The objective to raise awareness and funds matches #CookForUkraine, but it’s up to the person hosting the bake sale to decide where the funds go. There’s no suggestion to bake something Ukrainian, but there’s certainly nothing stopping you from doing so. The BAR team also offers a helpful resources page for getting up and running with your bake sale if you choose to host one.
Then there’s World Central Kitchen (WCK). Founded by José Andrés, WCK has been providing culturally-appropriate meals (not just the raw ingredients) and spurring economic recovery in response to crises since a 2010 earthquake devastated Haiti. It’s now a massive organization with global reach, responding to humanitarian, climate, and community crises everywhere. The situation in Ukraine and its surrounding countries is no exception. Mr. Andrés and his team arrived in Poland the day after Putin’s forces invaded Ukraine. Since then, they and the local restaurants and volunteers they’ve partnered with have served hundreds of thousands of meals in Ukraine and four surrounding countries. WCK shows no sign of slowing down, so any support you can give will provide a hot meal and a serving of comfort to a belly/soul/human in dire need of both. Here are some stories that speak to how welcome WCK’s presence is.
Obviously this is a short list of ways to help, but I wanted to keep it food-focused. I’m sure you all have seen plenty of organizations, initiatives, and movements come across your paths as well. Please feel free to share them in the comments. Here are a few lists I’ve come across from some sources I trust:
Obama Foundation: How You Can Help the People of Ukraine
@Trippin.World: How to Support Marginalized People in Ukraine
shondaland: 10 Resources to Help Ukraine Right Now
It’s also worth checking in with local restaurants, cafés, bakeries, and other eating establishments to see if supporting them could advance their efforts in raising funds for the crisis. And of course, the same is true of any local business going that extra mile, or of those with direct ties to the Ukrainian and Eastern European area. As it is for Vermont bakers Larissa and Jim Haas, the situation must be weighing heavily on them.
Take care, cook, bake, and if you need one last bite of knowledge and great writing, I encourage you to check out this piece, “Food for Thought: Not Just Nourishment” from a fellow newsletter writer, Sarah Fudge.