Solutions to win: Kyiv school moms start volunteer movement, feeding thousands of Ukraine's defenders

Photo: NGO "Matusyn Borschyk"

Alvina Kaminska

At one of Kyiv's schools, five mothers of seventh-grade students initiated the powerful volunteer movement "Matusyn Borschyk" [Mommy's Borscht  – ed.], which has already provided meals for tens of thousands of defenders.

Rubryka writes about this, referring to the history of the development and work of the volunteer movement reported on Facebook.

What is the problem?

As the Russian army began its full-blown war on Ukrainian territory, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians joined the volunteer movement.

Volunteers are the backbone of unity among Ukrainians, motivating them to support their fellow citizens. They are available round the clock, quickly responding to the army's needs and providing crucial assistance during challenging periods.

Ultimately, Ukraine's defenders require not just arms, military supplies, and munitions but also high-quality, nourishing meals. Although the military does provide it, soldiers crave homemade and delicious cuisine. Moreover, certain dishes, such as hot soups and borscht, are challenging to preserve during summertime, especially in bitterly cold winters when keeping fresh produce from freezing becomes a struggle.

What is the solution?

So, in September 2022, five mothers of seventh-graders from a school in Kyiv got together to cook something tasty for Ukrainian soldiers. Little did they know that this would lead to the birth of a volunteer movement for them.

They have already sent over 60,000 borscht sets to the front and are not stopping there.

^{Photo: NGO "Matusyn Borschyk"}

How does it work?

In September 2022, the women were brought together not just because their children were classmates but also because they shared a common goal to support Ukraine's armed forces. At home, they began to dry meat and vegetables for cooking borscht in field conditions.

As time went on, more and more homemakers joined their cause. In June of 2023, one of the volunteers, Anastasia, officially founded the NGO "Matusyn Borschyk.

^{Photo: NGO "Matusyn Borschyk"}

Today, their team consists of 13 women who lovingly cook for defenders.

Photo: NGO "Matusyn borschyk"

Active volunteers prepare lots of meals.

Photo: NGO "Matusyn Borschyk"

As they say, they send up to 7,000 portions of soups and borschts and about 10 kg of meat every month.

Photo: NGO "Matusyn Borschyk"

And in exchange, they receive the ultimate reward – reports from the defenders expressing gratitude.

^{Photo: NGO "Matusyn Borschyk"}

Anyone can support the team financially via the following link.

Even more useful solutions!

Rubryka covered the story of the mushroom farm owned by the Ilchuk family, "Yablunivski Pecherytsy," located in the Fastiv district of the Kyiv region. They produce approximately 200 kg of mushrooms monthly, used to make dehydrated soups and borschts for the military. From February 24 to mid-April 2022, the Ilchuk family generously donated 63 tons of mushrooms to restaurants and volunteer organizations.

Additionally, as Rubryka already mentioned, when attempting to support the defenders, Ukrainians often tend to send an overabundance of food to the front. Due to the field conditions, typically lacking refrigeration, the food quickly spoils.

Numerous social media posts from military personnel have been advising against sending excessive amounts of food that soldiers cannot consume before Easter. Rubryka has compiled straightforward guidelines to properly prepare packages, conserve resources, and support the troops. For more information, check out our article: "Sending goodies to the frontlines: what and how to send, without wasting effort."