ABOUT #CookForUkraine

#CookForUkraine started off as an idea between friends with a mutual love of food and a desire to help those in need. Little did they know that a simple hashtag would lead to the beginnings of a global movement… 

 OUR MISSION

#CookForUkraine aims to increase awareness of the humanitarian crisis the world faces right now, as well as raise the funds needed to aid children & families in Ukraine who have been displaced by the current situation. 

Since its inception, hundreds of people from different backgrounds and nationalities have reached out and shown their solidarity by joining this initiative – including top chefs, award-winning food writers, restaurant owners and home cooks – cooking, baking and sharing Ukrainian and Eastern European inspired dishes at their restaurants with their guests, at home with their friends and across social media with their family and followers. 

#CookForUkraine also provides a platform for Ukrainian families and their supporters to share recipes with each other, along with the stories behind those dishes. 

JOIN THE MOVEMENT - HOW TO GET INVOLVED

1. You can join the movement by hosting your own #CookForUkraine supper club or bake sale, inviting your friends and suggesting a donation to this Just Giving page. Share pictures on social media by adding the #CookForUkraine hashtag to connect with the community!

All proceeds will be directed to UNICEF UK’s Ukraine appeal, supporting children and families.

2. Get cooking, share your pictures, recipes and stories on social media by adding the #CookForUkraine hashtag.

3. Restaurant, Hotel, Cafe, Bar Owners & Operators can add a voluntary £1, £2, or £5 donation to the bill. Email cookforukraine@gmail.com for details to get set up. Share your support on social media by adding the #CookForUkraine hashtag

 Donate any funds collected to this Just Giving page! 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cookforukraine 

Register your interest in attending, hosting or participating in a supper club by filling out the short form here! We will be in touch with more details.

STAY TUNED!

Stay tuned and follow #CookForUkraine for details on restaurant fundraisers, pop-up events, charity supper clubs and more.  

 ABOUT THE ORGANISERS

Cook for Ukraine was born on the 24th of February 2022, when two close friends went to protest- Olia Hercules, a Ukrainian chef, food writer & now-activist, and Alissa Timoshkina, a Siberia-born food writer and historian. The following day, they have reached out to Clerkenwell Boy and NEXTGen London lead Layla Yarjani - the team who spearheaded #CookForSYRIA and raised over $1.3MM for Unicef through supper clubs, bake sales and recipe books. And on Sunday 27 February, the fund-raising campaign #CookforUkraine was launched.

Since then it has raised over £2MM to aid UNICEF, Choose Love and The Legacy of War Foundation, thanks to the help of stellar chefs like Jamie Oliver and Yotam Ottolenghi, over 300 restaurants in the UK, hundreds of home cooks globally and a small team of volunteers, that overlooks the operations of the campaign. Cook for Ukraine uses the language of food to educate, raise awareness and make relatable the colossal humanitarian crisis now unfolding in Ukraine. 

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN UKRAINE?

Conflict is escalating in Ukraine, putting millions of children and their families in immediate danger.  

More than half a million children in Ukraine are already affected as the conflict in the east of the country enters its eighth year. Homes, schools, water supplies and hospitals are damaged. Landmines pose a major threat to children’s lives. 

As the conflict intensifies, as many as 7.5 million children could be left without access to essential services.

ABOUT UNICEF

UNICEF is especially concerned for the safety and wellbeing of children who have become separated from their families.  

UNICEF has been working around the clock to keep children safe since this conflict began eight years ago. UNICEF’s efforts help to make sure that children’s health and protection services are sustained and families have clean water and nutritious food. 

• £32 could help pay for a large first aid kit for a health worker.


• £46 could help provide a family with an emergency water and hygiene kit.


• £80 could help pay for school supplies to help at least 20 children continue their education in an emergency.

We thank you sincerely for your ongoing support!

SUGGESTED RECIPE LINKS - FROM UKRAINE 

Ukrainian Jewish Challah bread 

https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/recipe/black-sesame-challah

 Ukrainian Garlic Bread - Pampushky

https://www.nigella.com/recipes/guests/olia-hercules-ukrainian-garlic-bread-pampushky

Ukrainian Cauliflower Fritters

https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/vegetarian/cauliflower-fritters/ 

Pyrizhky with mushrooms 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pyrizhky_with_mushrooms_38674

Red Borsch

https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/olia-hercules-borsch/

Green Borsch

https://oliahercules.com/recipes/green-borshch/ 

Stuffed Cabbage Leaves - Holubtsy

https://oliahercules.com/recipes/stuffed-cabbage-leaves/ 

Stuffed Peppers

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/stuffed_peppers_in_a_57103

Meet Balls from Odessa

https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/recipe/italian-street-polpette

  Apple Cake

https://oliahercules.com/recipes/apple-cake/ 

Romanian Raspberry tart

https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/recipe/raspberry-buttermilk-tart

Ukrainian Poppy Seed Bread

https://www.toa.st/blogs/magazine/a-recipe-for-ukrainian-poppy-seed-bread-time-to-make 

TEAM

Clerkenwell Boy

Alissa Timoshkina

Layla Yarjani

Olia Hercules

 Maya Tabaqchali

Helen Kamali

Anya Peach

Lucy Crowther

CREDITS

Recipes: Olia Hercules & friends

Photography: Joe Woodhouse

Logo Design: Barns Furr

CONTACT

CookForUkraine@gmail.com

All proceeds will be directed to UNICEF UK’s Ukraine appeal, supporting children and families.