#ChefsForUkraine: Stories from the Ground
Since the day after the attack from Russia began, WCK has been serving meals to thousands of families escaping the violence in Ukraine and people still remaining in the country each day. Over one million people have fled—including women, children, and seniors—with the number expected to continue rising.
Providing hot meals across five countries, WCK has met incredible chefs and volunteers who are cooking for people in need. We have also heard amazing stories of resilience from families leaving everything behind in search of safety. Below are some of the people we have had the honor of working with and meeting.
At the main train station in Suceava, Romania, our team met little Evelina. Evelina’s mother first heard bombings at 6am—she took both Evelina and her own mother into the basement of their apartment building, but there wasn’t enough space for them to stay there. They were able to find shelter at a local hospital, where they stayed safely in the basement for two days.
The family then fled for the Romanian border, a trip that took several days. Evelina’s mother said she tried to avoid listening to the radio or any news from the attacks. Once safe in Romania, Evelina had her first hot meal since the journey began – fresh spinach pasta with a creamy sauce prepared by WCK partner Bazzil.
After crossing into Romania with her two sons, Iryna had no idea that she would receive so much help—local sim cards, warm shelter, and fresh meals throughout the day. After working abroad for many years, she went back to her home town in Ukraine to build something for herself—a small business, a house, and providing her kids with an excellent education. Now leaving everything behind, she’s on her way to Italy to meet with her daughter and two-month old niece who managed to escape faster.
“I never thought that going to Florence would make me so sad. That place is the most beautiful city I’ve ever been to. I’m not afraid to work and start over – I just don’t want my children to know the feeling of fear, it’s been paralyzing me for the last few days.”
Gio is a musician who arrived in Kyiv 15 years ago after his home country was attacked in 2008—making this his second time being a war refugee. When Gio heard the first bombings he immediately knew he had to take his family and leave. He’s constantly thinking about his friends who have stayed behind because he is unsure if they have shelter or food.
“Every smile or piece of help I get from all the people here is turning the light on in my heart.”
Years before the attack started, childhood friends Daniela and Elena moved to Romania. Daniela is unsure of her brother’s well-being—he is still in Ukraine, fighting in the volunteer brigades. To support refugees in Romania, Daniela and Elena have been volunteering at a school shelter in Siret, helping with translating, distributing WCK meals, and whatever else is needed to make life easier for people fleeing. Daniela says this is her way of being close to her country and her brother.
M. is a volunteer psychologist supporting children refugees at a shelter in Romania. M. has a first aid kit for children’s self-esteem that includes stickers and a bubble blower.
“It’s important to help people disconnect from trauma, even if for a slight moment. These items and a hot, comforting meal are the kinds of things that children and their parents can associate with their homes left behind.”
Kacper is a Polish student from Kielce helping us serve food at the reception center in Medyka. Volunteering has left a big impression on him, especially when he saw a mother who had just arrived from Kyiv with her two-week old twins. They were all feeling weak from the long journey. With medical help, warm food, and care, they’re feeling healthy once again.
Hundreds of Indian medical students studying in Ukraine are now temporarily staying at two refugee camps in Radauti and Milisauti, Romania. After learning that a majority of the students do not eat meat, WCK partner Tarancuta stepped in to provide tasty, vegetarian meals like a traditional Romanian sour bean soup, potato stew with garlic and onions, and a homemade tomato sauce.
Stefan’s mother is helping Tarancuta provide families with hot plates to enjoy. He was also interested in helping, making sure volunteers and the rest of the WCK team had smiles on their faces. (pictured above next to bags of WCK meals)
In Siret, WCK is providing daily meals to a local stadium now serving as a shelter. Helping oversee the shelter is Alin, a Commander of the Romanian firefighter forces. Outside of his traditional role, Alin plays soccer with the children and does everything he can to see them smile.
“It’s hard to see children coming to these tents. I’m thinking of their fathers, and how these kids won’t be able to see them before they go to sleep tonight.”
Alexandra wakes up every day at 5am to help run her family-owned restaurant, La Brassiere—a WCK partner cooking hundreds of meals for people arriving in Romania.
“Imagine being in line, at the border, for 30 hours with no proper clothes, no heating, eating only cold, dry food. It’s very important that we give people warm, tasty, fresh meals the minute they arrive. I’m crying every time I hand out a warm soup to someone and I see such joy on their face. That’s when I know that the work we do is important.”
Amid ongoing threats of explosion & gunfire, WCK partner Yaposhka Restaurant in Kharkiv, Ukraine continues to provide fire departments, orphanages, shelters, hospitals, and anyone in need with hot, nourishing meals out of four kitchens. Earlier this week, a missile hit about 500 yards away from their business, and some days the team cooks in the dark while hearing planes attacking up above. Despite all of this and sleeping in bomb shelters for several days now, staff at Yaposhka show up every day with a smile, ready to cook for neighbors in need.
In Kherson—a city seized by Russian forces on Wednesday—Chef Alex and his team are cooking for families staying in bomb shelters and injured people at hospitals. Each day, the team is making 2,000 loaves of bread for sandwiches and to serve alongside hot meals.
Since establishing relief efforts week and half ago, WCK and our partners have served over 300,000 meals to people in need—and we continue to expand our support each day. WCK is committed to supporting refugees & people remaining in Ukraine for as long as we are needed.
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