The Power of Comfort Food
Imagine the unimaginable. On a moment’s notice, you must pack your belongings into a single suitcase in the dead of winter, grab your child’s hand, tuck your cat or dog into your fleece parka, make your way to the train station as snow and bombs are falling around you, say goodbye to your husband who is staying behind to face invading Russian tanks, and head along with a million other women and children for the nearest border crossing. As the world watches the unimaginable reality underway in Ukraine, our hearts break and we ask, “What can we do?”
In exchanges with friends, ideas surface. In lieu of physically joining the fight alongside the incredibly brave Ukrainians united in their resolve to save their democracy, I am reminded of the power of comfort food in times of war, depression, and natural disasters. There are those who are answering the call for action by turning their passion for cooking into food to feed those who have lost everything. One such hero helping to combat hunger in the war underway in Ukraine is an internationally renowned chef and humanitarian José Andrés.
In an article in The Washington Post (2/28/2022) by Emily Heil, she chronicles the efforts of Andrés and his non-profit World Central Kitchen (WCK) to feed Ukrainian refugees crossing into Poland and bordering countries. Without shelter or kitchens of their own, Heil reports “they are greeted with cups of hot tea, chicken and vegetable soup, and apple pie.” This comforting food is being provided by José Andrés and his World Central Kitchen operation mobilized to feed the thousands of refugees fleeing in freezing temperatures as they cross into Poland, Moldova Romania, and Hungry.
Heil reports that WCK’s chief executive, Nate Mook, has been marshaling volunteers who want to help. He’s seen farmers handing out eggs and kielbasa along a road and a ramen food truck ladling out soup. Mook says “WCK is also helping local restaurants in the Ukrainian cities of Odessa and Lviv feed those who have stayed in the country.”
Andrés tells people, “Guys, there are many ways to fight. Some people fight making sure people are fed.” It is those very volunteers that the WCK organization is now actively supporting both in Ukraine and at refugee facilities in neighboring countries. While they are hoping for the conflict to end quickly, they are preparing to stay as long as they’re needed.
The food community around the world is helping support the Ukrainian people. Heil reports in her article, “Bakers Against Racism launched an online bake sale in which members are selling cookies, pies and cakes, with proceeds going to humanitarian groups including Save the Children, International Rescue Committee, Sunflower of Peace, and WCK.” In the United Kingdom, “a group of chefs and food writers has organized #CookforUkraine encouraging people to hold supper clubs or bake sales to raise money for UNICEF.”
Heil also reports that there has been an outpouring from customers at Ukrainian eateries in the United States showing solidarity with Ukraine. At Veselka, a popular Ukrainian diner in New York, customers lined up around the block to buy a special edition of the restaurant’s cookies iced in the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag.
What I ask myself can I do? How can I help feed refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? To answer this question, I’ve turned once again to the power of comfort food and a small group of women I began working with in March 2020 at the onset of the Covid pandemic. Together, we began The Common Ingredient website. M.F.K. Fisher, an acclaimed American food writer, said in an earlier time of global crisis (WWII) “First we eat, then we do everything else.”
“Now, in our own period of crisis arising from the impact of COVID-19 and the displacement of millions of people due to the invasion of Ukraine, years-long refugee displacement from Syria, and other humanitarian crises, we are all eager to help—whether it is to address food insecurity in our own communities or to aid those in war-torn or struggling countries of the world.
“TCI founders believe in the centrality of food in nurturing humanity, in fueling our potential for doing good; and we know that meals made for one another, served to one another, and eaten together bring joy, healing, and the best respite…. With this connectedness in mind, The Common Ingredient (which is love) was launched. www.thecommoningredient.com
“On this website, we share stories and recipes with neighbors far and wide. We welcome you to visit our website, contribute your own favorite comfort recipes, and consider donating to organizations within your community and around the world helping to feed people where food insecurity exists.”
At this moment, the unimaginable humanitarian crisis in Ukraine has us all asking, “What can I do?” A donation to Chef José Andrés’s WCK organization would be a great place to start. hello@wck.org
“Wherever there’s a fight so hungry people can eat,
we will be there.”
