UK: Snizhana Yesaulenko, a Ukrainian director of The Gresham Aparthotel in Leicester has started a campaign to raise funds to help the people of Kyiv during the Russian invasion.
Through her Just Giving page, Snizhana Yesaulenko is raising money to support field kitchens which have been set up in the Ukrainian capital. The kitchens are providing hot meals and food for hospitals, soldiers and civilians who have chosen to stay, or can’t leave their country.
The kitchens are run by 220 volunteers, mainly women, who are cooking all day long to help feed those in need that remain in the city. Yesaulenko started the page just under two weeks ago and is already more than half way to reaching her target of raising £25,000. The money raised so far has helped to set up three kitchens.
Yesaulenko said: “The response has been incredible. I am truly lost for words and am so proud of everyone who has helped. Thank you. The funds raised are having a direct impact on people’s lives. At our kitchens, £500 to £600 a day feeds 5,000 to 6,000 people. All funds raised are being sent directly to this worthy cause and they go towards paying for fuel, cooking, deliveries and food. Due to the ever-changing nature of the situation, the team in Ukraine doesn’t want the money to be sent all at once.
“We have a call with them every day to ensure that the kitchens are still running. Only then do we release some more of the funds. This way, if for some reason the kitchens can’t continue, we can direct the money elsewhere to directly benefit the people of Ukraine. This is a sad but practical way of ensuring that the money raised can have the maximum impact on people’s lives.”
The Gresham Aparthotel has introduced a number of initiatives to encourage people to support the kitchens and to help the people of Kyiv. These include 100 rooms being made available at a special price of £50 in support of the appeal.
All of the money raised through these rooms will directly support the Kyiv Mobile Kitchens.
A raffle has also been set up through The Gresham Aparthotel social media channels to encourage even more people to donate to the appeal. Guests booking to stay at the aparthotel will be given the option to add a donation as part of the booking process and they can also donate at the aparthotel reception.
Eloic Montagnier, general manager at The Gresham, said: “We have all been shocked by what we are seeing in Ukraine so we are keen to do everything that we can to help the people affected. We were really inspired by the Kyiv Mobile Kitchen project that Snizhana is supporting through her page. It is clearly making a real impactful difference to the people on the ground. The work that the volunteers are doing is truly amazing.
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