3/20/22

By Tom Cartwright

Busy and productive days at World Central Kitchen: #ChefsForThePeople…. Preparing thousands of meals for Ukrainians fleeing to safety. Most nights we have then gone to the border crossing at Medyka and passed out candy, hot chocolate, juice, and fruit to those who just arrived in Poland. The huge paella pans the photo (and there are 6 of them), each can cook 250 gallons at a time, and each enough for 2,000 servings of soup, broth, applesauce, stew, etc. As an example, for one day the prepared meal was rice with beef and vegetables, fresh salad, and garlic bread. Broth and hot chocolate for the border as well. And borscht prepared and in the cooler for the next day. 250 gallons of it.

A wonderful young couple from London prepared and packaged applesauce an entire day with a group of 8 or so. A very tiering, tedious, and messy effort. When we went to the border crossing at Medyka at night together we saw ctoddlers enjoying that applesauce. Joy for all.

It seemed slower at the crossing – slower, not slow. It is still a steady stream of people with all their possessions in only what they can carry, sometimes a suitcase or 2 large bag for Mom, and a small backpack for the child. I hear from the man that runs the main shelter at night that the next few days may accelerate again, but what is totally certain, is the uncertainty of the situation. Again today, almost entirely women and children, with men staying behind to defend their homeland. It is hard to imagine the long-term impacts of family survivor trauma if this does not end soon. The journey for one elderly woman was 10 days of walking, bus rides, and random cars rides, during which time she barely ate. So, the food we provide is not just comfort food, it is truly necessary nourishment. One man passed on crutches with a recently amputated foot from an apartment bombing.

Security (Polish Army) was stepped up recently with passport checks to approach the border crossing building where WCK has the first welcoming refreshment center. That is good. There have been reports of traffickers trying to prey on new arrivals which is nauseating to think about.

Photo with permission.