Solutions from Ukraine: first Ukrainian kitchen factory begins supplying school meals

The Kyiv region's first kitchen factory has started providing school meals since today.

Ruslan Kravchenko, head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, announced this on Facebook.

What is the problem?

As Rubryka reported, the construction of the kitchen factory in Bucha started in the spring of last year and ended in December.

Howard Buffet, an American philanthropist and businessman, has taken on the role of patron for the kitchen factory in Bucha. The foundation he leads will cover all costs for providing hot meals to children in three different communities for the first year. This project was a joint effort between "World Central Kitchen" and the National Catering Association.

^{Photo: Facebook / Olena Zelenska}

According to Olena Zelenska, the project was started by Buffett's desire not only to help Ukraine recover after the invasion by the Russian invaders but also to become better. After all, even before the start of a full-scale war, an audit of schools showed that not every institution has the proper capacity to prepare high-quality food for children.

After hundreds of educational institutions in Ukraine were bombed and destroyed by the Russian army, adequate nutrition became an even bigger question.

What is the solution?

"GotuYimo," – Ukraine's first kitchen factory in Bucha, started delivering meals to three schools today. One and a half thousand portions were rushed to Bucha Lyceum No. 9, where there is now a support kitchen. From there, lunches were also distributed to schools No. 1 and No. 2," said the head of the regional military administration.

The launch of the work is another step in reforming school meals, initiated by the first lady Olena Zelenska, in which Kyiv region is the flagship of all innovations.

"Our region is actively rebuilding the food system in educational institutions, training cooks and agents of change. Because high-quality, balanced and tasty food is important to children's health," Ruslan Kravchenko noted.

How does it work?

Educational institutions receive pre-packaged, frozen meals specially prepared and designed for heating on-site. Upon arrival, the meals are subject to the appropriate heating process and are then served to the students. The entire menu is carefully assessed to ensure it meets the standards of healthy nutrition and caters to the needs of the students.

By the way, the kitchen factory will serve hot lunches to all students in the educational institutions from 1st to 11th grade.

During April, all schools of the Bucha community will switch to food from the kitchen factory. Preparation and delivery will be gradually scaled to the Nemishaive and Borodianka communities.

For reference:

As Rubryka previously reported, the First Lady announced that another kitchen factory will be built in Lozova, Kharkiv region.