A local coffee house is serving up support two causes close to its heart in Ukraine.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e like us you鈥檝e felt helpless this week watching the news,鈥� Ratio Coffee & Pastry co-owner Andrew McWilliam said. 鈥淲e wanted to help somehow and donuts is what we do best!鈥�
The downtown shop is mixing things up for doughnut Friday and attempting to make some traditional Ukrainian doughnuts, pampushky. The filled doughnuts are covered in icing or cinnamon sugar and with traditional fillings like rose and dates, along with some other varieties with a Ukrainian twist.
Ratio will be donating $2 from every doughnut sale to two connections it has in Ukraine, and two other local businesses have stepped up to match the donations.
鈥淪o now every $2 becomes $6,鈥� said McWilliam of the support from the Vernon Court Reporters and an anonymous business. 鈥淭his will go a long way on the ground in Ukraine.鈥�
The money will go directly to two connections Ratio has with Ukraine of people working tirelessly to help others in need.
The first is the Rays of Love orphanage in Krivoy Rog.
Run by Adam and Luba Nikkel (Adam is a former Salmon Arm resident), many in the orphanage have been able to evacuate to Moldova, but many men have had to stay behind.
鈥淭hey need funds to support those who鈥檝e been forced to stay behind and also to care for anyone who needs housing because of displacement at the orphanage,鈥� said McWilliam, adding that one of the Ratio owners volunteered at the orphanage in 2003.
The second cause being supported is local Pastor Yuri from Kramatorsk.
鈥淗e also was able to get his family to safety but has had to stay behind. He is spending his time feeding and comforting anyone in need.鈥�
Yuri has been purchasing hundreds of loaves of bread, sunflower oil and other essentials to give to anyone hungry.
鈥淭he money we are able to send to him will go directly to feeding people on the ground in Ukraine,鈥� said McWilliam.
Ratio anticipates selling out of doughnuts but has also set up a donation portal on its website .
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
newsroom@vernonmorningstar.com
Like us on and follow us on .
