Hot Meals in an Icy Cold Ukraine

We expected that Winter would remain mild, but that was a bit optimistic. Now we have a solid Winter spike with temperatures far below zero, and that will last until the beginning of March.

People are pessimistic about the peace talks that started in Saudi Arabia between the superpowers USA and Russia. In practice the war continues as usual. Last night there were 103 drones fired at Ukraine.

A couple of days ago, even Mykolajiv, a port in the south, was severely hit by an attack on its energy infrastructure. Tens of thousands of families were without heating. Fortunately the large soup kitchen we support there had a powerful generator, so they could still cook. Meals could be taken away, or between air-raid alarms, delivered at home to disabled elderly.

“During air-raids or after bombings more people come to us actually”

In Kyiv, that had to endure hundreds of drones again last weekend, and after a drone attack at the nuclear power plant of Chernobyl, people hold their collective breath for the things to come.

In Kyiv and surroundings we support four soup kitchens, amongst one big tent where hundreds of Jewish elderly receive a daily hot meal.

Juliya from Kyiv writes us about the impact of the work. “Our project has been running for 6 years now, and every week we see how important it is. We provide meals for a lot of people of whom most live in our neighbourhood.  Some come to collect their meal and take with them something for the disabled neighbours. Others wait for our volunteers who deliver the meals.

Maybe it sounds a bit odd, but during air-raids or after bombings more people come to us actually. They don’t only look for food, but also a place to be together, have a cup of tea and just talk to someone.

“These meals are not just food. They are a sign of care, proof that they are not abandoned”

For the elderly we help, these meals are not just food. They are a sign of care, proof that they are not abandoned. Many elderly do not have the physical or mental strength to cook for themselves, and the prices continue to increase. But, through these meals they know that there is someone who cares for them.”

One of them is Gennadiy from Kyiv. He was born in a Jewish family and since his childhood he suffers from schizophrenia. Therefore he is mentally incapacitated and lives alone.

Gennadiy after collecting a meal from Meals on Wheels | Photo: Christians for Israel

His monthly pension is some € 68,-, of which most is spent on fixed charges. For a long time he hardly dared to get in touch with other people, and his regular contact was Olga, a home care worker from Chesed.

When Gennadiy joined the meal project, Olga collected the meals for him because he didn’t want any strangers in his house. But after a while she succeeded in persuading him to join her to collect the meals.

Now he comes every week, even when he is a bit under the weather, because he wants to see his new friends. The project not only gave him food, but also a way to build social contacts. Gennadiy is no talker, but every week he thanks us – and more often – a smile appears upon his face.

These kinds of narratives show how important these meals are. Especially for Holocaust survivors, who remember all too well how hunger was used as a weapon. In Ukraine 1.7 million Jews were murdered, and tens of thousands died because of exhaustion and malnutrition. Fear amongst this group of people is indescribable.

That is why we continue. Every meal is a source of food, but also a sign of hope.

“Every meal is a source of food, but also a sign of hope”

Below a number of photographs of the soup kitchen in Kryvyi, East Ukraine.
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Please help!

Every month some 12,000 meals are prepared in Ukraine in 21 places. The meals are prepared with great care and then either collected or delivered at home with love to the Jewish elderly and refugees who can barely make ends meet while expressing their profound gratitude.

Please support the work of our dedicated Christians for Israel team in Ukraine!