WCK witnesses attack in Kramatorsk; #ChefsForUkraine serves liberated cities

 

#ChefsForUkraine Latest: Horrific attack kills dozens at Kramatorsk railway station, as WCK begins serving in liberated towns around Kyiv We weren’t far from the Kramatorsk station when the missiles hit, picking up flour from a WCK warehouse to bring to our partner bakery that was producing pastries for families waiting to board evacuation trains. Moments before, we had seen thousands waiting on the platform and outside the station; when we returned, the scene was catastrophic. 59 innocent mothers, children and seniors were killed in the attack. We are in shock, but WCK is not running away—we must stand with the people of Ukraine against evil. And we will continue to support our local team led by Katya. Watch her story below. "When you realize you will have nothing to eat tomorrow is the worst." SUPPORT OUR UKRAINE RELIEF EFFORTS After initially bringing food to the towns of Bucha and Irpin hours after they were liberated, the WCK team in Kyiv continues to reach new communities now free from Russian occupation. Every day in Chernihiv, hundreds of people wait for WCK to arrive with hot meals and 30 pound bundles of food to cook. Sasha and the team at Riga Bakery now make over 4,000 loaves of bread with WCK for families in Chernihiv. Their delivery trucks are marked by bullet holes. We asked why she still is here and Sasha told us: "People are hungry and I love to bake.” "Joining the WCK team reaching Irpin & Bucha the day it was liberated, I will never forget the brave people I met—and the world must never forget the horrific crimes committed. As I promised them, we must be back tomorrow & the next day & every day after." - José In Hostomel, a neighboring community of Bucha, WCK teams met Vira and Victoria – two incredible women who run a school that turned into a shelter. This shelter housed 100 people when Russian forces occupied the area, and now about 20 people who either lost their homes or who need additional support are still sleeping here. Russians soldiers lived in the school through their occupation, sleeping on the second floor while Ukrainian families stayed in the basement. Through it all, Vita and Victoria continued cooking, even while holding a deep fear of the uncertainty to come each morning. WCK is now bringing hot meals and ingredients for them to cook with. In Kharkiv, where rocket attacks have worsened in recent days, WCK restaurants continue to cook meals and serve families in need within the city and many surrounding towns. The hospital we deliver food to in Derhachi—north of Kharkiv—was hit by shelling. Still, some medical staff remain and WCK will keep delivering food, including fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat for hospital teams to cook with. It is estimated 22,000 people have been killed in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol and another 33,500 deported to Russia. In the city of Zaporizhzhia, the WCK team serves meals at the reception center that is the first stop for refugees who escape Mariupol and other occupied towns. The horrors faced by these families are unimaginable—to get out, some waited at Russian checkpoints for 2 days & cars arrive shot up. Nate reports in from the reception center below. We are so grateful for our amazing restaurant partners, local staff and thousands of volunteers who are working tirelessly and courageously to get food to people in need throughout Ukraine and surrounding countries. WCK teams remain active serving refugees in Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, and Spain. Together, we have provided over 9 million meals and delivered 5 million pounds of food–and counting! WCK will continue to support Ukraine as long as we are needed. Stay up to date on our response by following our latest updates on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. While making a delivery of food, the WCK team asked if this woman needed help tying the bag to her bike.   "No! We are strong, war babusi!", said the 84 year-old grandmother as she threw the 20 pound food bundle on the back of her bicycle.