DE PERE, Wis. (WFRV) – It’s been four years to the day since Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine.
To mark the occasion, Vintage Rose Bakery & Sandwich Shop in De Pere will donate money to a group called Wisconsin Ukrainians Inc. for each Ukrainian dish they sell at their bakery between now and Saturday.
“Just watching how resilient the Ukrainian people are, how they’re not rolling over, and how they’re standing up for their territory,” Vintage Rose Bakery & Sandwich Shop co-owner Kimberly Paul told Local 5 News. “To support that (their fight) until they get what they deserve (freedom from Russian control) is awesome.”
Wisconsin Ukrainians Inc. will use the money to purchase medical supplies to help Ukrainians impacted by the Russian Invasion. They will also try to buy generators and power banks because some parts of Ukraine don’t have electricity, as Russia has targeted the country’s power grid as part of its war strategy.
Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc. has been fundraising since the beginning of the war in 2022 and has raised about $900,000 during that time.
As part of their current fundraiser, Vintage Rose Bakery & Sandwich Shop has added several Ukrainian dishes to their menu. One of those dishes is borscht which is a beet soup and the other is a pampushka which is a garlic roll.
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“I usually liken it to a chicken booyah,” Paul said about the borscht. “Just a simple vegetable soup, but the color is a little brighter. We’ve got this down pretty well for year three, but we always like a good challenge.”
This is the third year that they have added these dishes as part of their menu to raise money to help Ukraine. Paul said they enjoy the challenge of cooking something new and made sure to adhere to traditional Ukrainian recipes to keep the food authentic.
Oksana Kobzar is the secretary for Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc. She was born and raised in Ukraine and says she still has lots of friends and family members who live there.
“We now divide our lives before the war and during the war,” she told Local 5 News. “The last four years haven’t been so easy for any Ukrainian.”
Kobzar said she’s been amazed by the support from the Northeast Wisconsin community over the last four years. She said it’s important not to forget what Ukrainians are going through right now, even though it’s been four long years since the Russian invasion began.
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“We continue to fight, and we continue to exist, and our spirits are high, and we strongly believe that we’ll be able to defeat the enemy and protect our land,” she said. “We’re very hopeful that we will receive every inch of our land back.”
Last year, Paul said they raised about $600 for the Wisconsin Ukrainians group through this fundraiser.
“We are very supported, and I think that’s what gives us hope to continue on with our fight,” Kobzar said. “Because we have so many wonderful people in the community.”
