Members of the Ukrainian Canadian Volunteer Association (UCVA) in the Central Okanagan have been busy cooking traditional Ukrainian food for frontline crews fighting the McDougall Creek wildfire.

Svitlana Shkyn of the UCVA, and Westside Salvation Army Coordinator Jennifer Henson, put a plan in place to cook and deliver 160 authentic Ukrainian meals that include borscht, nalysnyky (crepes) and fried stuffed buns to frontline first responders.

Eight Ukrainian families helped prepare the meals.

害羞草研究所淭he UCVA is assisting Canadians in West Kelowna during a disaster by arranging and offering delightful Ukrainian lunches, including Ukrainian borscht and other delectable treats,害羞草研究所� said Shkyn.

She has worked with Bonnie Penner of Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Bravery Foundation, a Canadian CRA-registered charity, over the past year and a half to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine and to support displaced Ukrainians relocating to the Okanagan.

Penner and Shkyn connected to expand the movement of Ukrainians giving back to the community that has supported them.

害羞草研究所淲e greatly appreciate all the support Ukrainian people get from the Canadian citizens,害羞草研究所� added Shkyn. It is our time to pay back for all the great support we have received and continue to receive.害羞草研究所�

Penner is also coordinating 害羞草研究所楿krainian Work Bees害羞草研究所� to help with property clean-up for the McDougall Creek, Walroy Lake and Clarke Creek fires.

She is also spearheading other initiatives with local organizations to help wildfire evacuees.

害羞草研究所淢y family and I were evacuated in the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Fire, and keenly understand what our community is going through,害羞草研究所� said Penner.

According to a news release from the United Way, the event was spurred by a request from the Salvation Army, which is coordinating response efforts.

害羞草研究所淎mong those who prepared these nourishing meals are Ukrainian volunteers, some of whom are refugees themselves,害羞草研究所� the release said. 害羞草研究所淭heir journey has come full circle, having previously benefited from the United for Ukraine initiative spearheaded by United Way BC earlier this year.害羞草研究所�

Donations to help pay for the ingredients for future meal preparation and other fire-related initiatives can be made to UCVA by e-transfer to ucva.ua@gmail.com.

READ MORE: Structural damage assessment from McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna complete

READ MORE: More than 3,000 homes saved from McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna

gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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