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UPDATE: Vernon serves up nearly $12,000 in support for Ukraine

Ukrainian doughnut fundraiser for #donutfriday at Ratio a huge success
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Ratio made traditional Ukrainian doughnuts, Pampushky, to support relief efforts in the war-stricken country. (Contributed)

A local coffee house poured its soul into supporting two causes close to its heart in Ukraine.

“If you’re like us you’ve felt helpless this week watching the news,” Ratio Coffee & Pastry co-owner Andrew McWilliam said. “We wanted to help somehow and donuts is what we do best!”

The downtown shop mixed things up for doughnut Friday and made 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 donated $2 from every doughnut sale to two connections it has in Ukraine, and three other local businesses stepped up to match the donations.

“So now every $2 becomes $8,” said McWilliam of the support from the Vernon Court Reporters, Victorian Seniors residence and an anonymous business. “This will go a long way on the ground in Ukraine.”

The shop sold approximately 1,400 pampushkys, raising nearly $12,000.

“Bakers did an incredible job starting at 2 a.m.,” McWilliam said.

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.

“They need funds to support those who’ve been forced to stay behind and also to care for anyone who needs housing because of displacement at the orphanage,” 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.

“He 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.”

Yuri has been purchasing hundreds of loaves of bread, sunflower oil and other essentials to give to anyone hungry.

“The money we are able to send to him will go directly to feeding people on the ground in Ukraine,” said McWilliam.

Ratio has also set up a donation portal on its website ratiocoffee.ca.

READ MORE: VIDEO: Ukraine flag flies at Vernon city hall

READ MORE: ‘A senseless war’: protestors in Vernon show support for Ukraine amid Russian invasion


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Jennifer Smith

About the Author: Jennifer Smith

Vernon has always been my home, and I've been working at The Morning Star since 2004.
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