No words
(or at least not many)
March 23rd 2022
It seems frivolous in these times to send out a newsletter “about all sorts of things”. It seems frivolous (and a huge privilege) that I’m travelling again. More often than not, these days, I’m lost for words, paralyzed by world events and feeling helpless and I know I am not alone.
The last couple of years have been challenging for many reasons due to Covid and those feelings of helplessness and despair are not unknown to many (most?) of us. But now, just as Covid seems to be (maybe?) on its way out (slowly), we’re faced with a war. And it feels weird and wrong to not address what’s happening so in this mini newsletter, I’m sharing a few places you can help, organizations helping Ukraine and some stories which have captured my attention. It feels small but it’s what I can do for now. I’ll send the regular monthly missive and a paid subscriber edition later in the month with lighter news. In the meantime, please indulge these few words.
Of course, conflict exists all over the world at all times (sadly) but for some reason, it feels like the invasion of Ukraine has hit the world harder. Do more people have connections to/ family in Ukraine (in Toronto there is a big Ukrainian population)? Is it the fact that so much is being shared in real time on social media? I’ll admit to recently following a few folks and businesses in Ukraine, including this guy and his people who made it out of Kharkov but not after 2 weeks’ silence online.
(that is him in the train on his way to safety in France, leaving behind family. Read more about his story in The Washington Post!)
If you interact with children or teenagers, you might have heard them ask about "World War 3”. About “dads fighting”. There are definitely some tough conversations happening right now. So, education, conversations and being available to listen to people who need to chat are a couple of ways we can help these days. It doesn’t feel like much, but it’s important.
Here are some other ways to help.
ShelterBox “no family without shelter after disaster”
ShelterBox teams work with disaster-hit families around the world, offering emergency shelter and other essential items to support them in rebuilding their lives.
Currently, ShelterBox is providing mattresses, thermal blankets, shelter kits, hygiene kits, and solar lights for those who are remaining in Ukraine, and warm winter clothing for refugees who have fled to neighbouring countries.
The Rotary Club of Toronto’s Charitable Foundation is currently matching donations to ShelterBox’s efforts in Ukraine. Click here to donate.
Saint Javelin
I first saw this campaign mentioned by my friend Krys who offered to help a friend launching a sticker selling campaign, Saint Javelin, to raise funds for Help Us Help, a federally registered Canadian charitable organization focused on humanitarian aid and educational projects in Ukraine. Christian Borys, the brains behind the viral campaign said:
I decided to make a sticker out of a meme called Saint Javelin. It’s an extremely niche meme, recognizable only to war reporters, defence analysts and military types. It depicts a religious icon, the Madonna, holding a Javelin anti-tank guided missile—the type of weapon that the Americans gave to the Ukrainian military so that they could defend themselves against large-scale Russian invasion. The meme represents support and protection for Ukraine.
A few weeks after humble beginnings, they’ve sold over $1 million of goods and shipped to over 60 countries. According to Borys:
My accounts were frozen because the banks thought I was laundering money.
Read more about this incredible campaign here and donate/ purchase your merchandise here.
World Central Kitchen
Many of you will have heard of Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen, a non-profit organization that provides meals in the wake of natural disasters. Their work is incredible all over the world and in and around Ukraine is no different.
In their own words:
We don’t just deliver raw ingredients and expect people to fend for themselves. And we don’t just dump free food into a disaster zone: we source and hire locally wherever we can, to jump-start economic recovery through food.
After a disaster, food is the fastest way to rebuild our sense of community. We can put people back to work preparing it, and we can put lives back together by fighting hunger.
Cooking and eating together is what makes us human.
Read more and donate to World Central Kitchen here.
Daily Pearls
A beautiful way to show your support from my friend Sarah in Toronto.
100% of the proceeds of the sales of this bracelet will be donated to UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency).
Click here for details on how to purchase/ donate.
Support a Ukrainian family in Southwest France
My friend Tamsin, who hosts small retreats in Southwest France will be hosting Ukrainian friends of friends, Oksana, her 10 year old daughter Nika and Oksana's mother who have fled Ukraine with a single change of clothes. Tamsin says:
I am seeking your support to help enable them to establish themselves. They can only leave their country with one change of clothes, so all donations will go to support them to lead as normal and as active a new life here as possible, with the immediate need of clothes and toys.
Click here to read more about Tamsin’s efforts and to support the campaign.
Help those helping animals in Ukraine
The aforementioned cat, Stepan, who escaped Kharkov, is launching a campaign to help a number of organizations who are helping animals left in, or fleeing from, Ukraine. Click on the post to read more.
Why sunflowers?
I started noticing the sunflowers being shared as symbols of support for Ukraine right at the start of the war. Living in Southwest France in the summer, the sunflowers are one of my favourite things so I always notice them wherever they are. According to Time:
Globally, awareness of the association between sunflowers and Ukraine has grown since Feb. 24, the first day of the invasion, when the news outlet Ukraine World shared a video on Twitter showing a Ukrainian woman in Henychesk giving sunflower seeds to Russian soldiers, with the striking instruction to put the seeds in their pockets so the flowers will grow where they die. The video has racked up 8.6 million views on Twitter since it was uploaded on Feb. 24, and comedian John Oliver featured it on Last Week Tonight.
Sunflowers have been grown in Ukraine since the mid 18th century and the seeds used to be the country’s most popular snack. Today, Ukraine supplies much of the world with sunflower oil. Throughout the turbulent history of the country, the sunflower has been the unofficial national symbol and one of peace.
buy my books and help me support World Central Kitchen
Don’t have my books? Read all about them and find links to purchase near you here.
For the months of March and April 2022, I will donate $1 for every copy of French Food for Everyone sold to World Central Kitchen.
Thanks for reading, stay safe,
Mardi xo
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