How WCK Supports Ukrainians’ Unique Needs, From Emergency Meals to Kitchen Renovations
The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has disrupted food access for families all across Ukraine. For almost 5 years, WCK innovated and invested in community partnerships to help serve hundreds of thousands of meals. One approach is not enough to meet the diverse needs of Ukrainians impacted by the conflict—almost 40 million people live in Ukraine, and all of them have different needs.
WCK was founded on the principle of listening to communities in crisis. We don’t parachute in with our own way of operating, we spend time with community members and leaders to understand who they are and how we can best support the work they’re already doing.
To maximize our reach, we adapt to what each community actually needs. Not every community needs daily hot meal deliveries. Our Ukrainian kit project was born from this listening. Since serving our first meals in February 2022, we’ve developed support programs that provide exactly what families need, when they need it most. From hot meals served in the hours after a drone strike to laying hens, seed kits, and greenhouses that build long-term resilience, here are a few of the ways we support Ukrainian communities.
Sign up to WCK’s newsletter for more updates
Emergency Response Meals
In the immediate aftermath of a Russian attack, people may not think about one of their most essential needs: food. That’s why WCK is there right away with meals, drinks, and snacks for families and rescue crews. Since 2022, our teams have responded to hundreds of emergencies, often in the middle of the night, showing up with warm tents and warm smiles so families experiencing sudden loss have a moment of comfort.
WCK’s #ChefsForUkraine teams lead dozens of emergency responses each year. Reaching families during these moments is critical to our work. As strikes escalate, we remain committed to caring for people across the country.
Children’s Kits
During a conflict, children lose the ability to just be kids. WCK Ukraine’s children’s kits are designed to provide this essential support. Each kit is packed with kid-friendly snacks like a fruit candy mix, fruit leather, and freeze-dried ice cream. These are all treats that nourish while letting kids experience the joys of childhood.
Stove Kits
Families in frontline villages may not have access to cooking tools of their own. WCK’s stove kits help alleviate that burden, providing them with the opportunity to cook for themselves once again. With these kits, which include propane-powered stoves, gas canisters, and a fire extinguisher for safety, they can cook the meals they love even when they don’t have electricity.
Immediate-Use Survival Kits
In frontline communities, families may lose access to power, hot water, and gas for extended periods of time. Our immediate-use survival kits provide meals that require no additional cooking. Each Survival Kit contains 10 ready-to-eat meals that do not require cooking or special preparation. Our goal is to help families survive day-to-day under very difficult conditions and ensure they have consistent access to nourishing food when they need it most.
“We have people living in modular homes where there is almost no way to cook at all. And when there are massive drone attacks, electricity can be cut for one or even two days. These kits are a lifeline in extremely difficult conditions,” said Mykola, a local community leader in the village of Tyahynka.
Winter Preparedness Supplies
Winter in Ukraine brings limited food access and harsh conditions—compounded by ongoing strikes and inconsistent power and heating. For many Ukrainians, winter is one of the most stressful times of year. WCK teams are helping communities prepare by distributing food preservation supplies. Preserving fruits and vegetables is a deeply rooted cultural tradition in Ukraine, and a crucial way families can keep food shelf-stable and nutritious through the coldest months.
Renovate a Community Kitchen
When we connect with communities, we often find that they’re already cooking for one another. In these cases, WCK’s goal is to give them the tools they need to keep doing that work. Enter our community kitchen renovations, through which we’re able to supply local leaders with ovens, stoves, and more to expand their capacity so they can serve more of their neighbors.
This was the case in Bashtanka, a town near the frontline. When we met the community leaders there, they had been cooking outdoors over a wood flame and sharing meals over a folding plastic table. The kitchen they had been using prior was destroyed by a Russian strike. Still, the food they served was delicious and made with love. WCK teams were able to renovate their kitchen, which is now complete with ovens, stoves with hoods, and dishwashers.
Natalia and her mother Tetiana now work at the local WCK-supported community kitchen. In Bashtanka, she tells us, neighbors always take care of neighbors.
“For us, when someone needs help, we all go together,” she said.
Support our efforts in Ukraine
