A preparatory statement for the launch of our self-operated "volunteer kitchen," which promises an enjoyable experience.
Fueling Troops with Love and Homemade Food: The Heartwarming Story of "Cooking for Ours"
In the bustling city of Vladivostok, a unique community named "Cooking for Ours" has been thriving since March 20, 2023. With a robust Telegram channel boasting 335 members, this group offers a heartwarming tale of selfless service and dedication to troops far beyond the Primorsky Krai. As Ekaterina Kornaukhova, the group's inspiring leader, shared with PrimaMedia, this generous initiative sprang from a simple love for cooking and a desire to help.
Across Russia, similar groups have been popping up, where women, including relatives of participants in the special military operation, gather in the evenings for a shared culinary mission. Whereas instant noodles were once the staple for troops, the home-cooked delicacies prepared by these noble souls offer a delightful and nutritious alternative.
Ekaterina Kornaukhova, a vibrant hiking enthusiast, accidentally stumbled upon her volunteer role when she naively joined the "Sewing for Ours" group for a brief stint. Injured from a sewing mishap, she sought solace in her dehydrator, which she had bought with hiking in mind. Olga, a fellow group member, took notice of her curiosity about dehydrating borscht and suggested they collaborate. Thus, the "Cooking for Ours" group was born, starting with just the two women.
Today, the group specializes in a diverse range of dishes, from nourishing soups like milk porridges to an assortment of satisfying snacks. Their dehydrated goodies require only boiling water to rehydrate, making them an easy and convenient meal choice for soldiers to enjoy while on duty.
Vegetables are carefully pre-cooked, grated, and dehydrated to preserve their texture, transforming comforting dishes like borscht into mouthwatering, recognizable creations. On occasion, they add home-dried chicken breast or beef cooked with delicious spices to enhance the flavors. While beef can be costly, the group focuses on using ingredients that have a superior shelf life to ensure that their donations reach their destinations unspoiled.
Since its inception in 2023, "Cooking for Ours" has dispatched over 24,000 portions of their homemade delicacies to soldiers across Russia. The list of offerings includes tantalizing options like borscht, rassolnik, taiga soup, mushroom and pea soups, fish soup, mashed potatoes, and milk porridges. Additionally, the group supplies an array of sweets (like teas, coffees, lemons, bananas, pastilles), fruit snacks, gingerbread, cookies, and various teas made from taiga herbs, berries, and garden plants.
As Ekaterina recounts, some soldiers are skeptical of their dry "care packages" initially but are astounded when they discover theira favorites hidden among them. Regardless of their initial reactions, both soldiers and group members share the common understanding of camaraderie and dedication to serving those in need.
The core group of around 50 active members remains predominantly female, with the occasional aid from male counterparts. Despite the demands of their generosity, the members are tireless in their commitment to support their fellow citizens and troops nationwide.
In the words of Ekaterina Kornaukhova, "We send our food to anyone who asks, not just fighters from the Primorye region. We've had men from Smolensk, Murmansk, Chelyabinsk, Kursk, and Kamchatka reach out to us." The group's warm-hearted mission is to bring a sense of community and comfort to soldiers wherever they are, uniting the country in a shared effort to support those on the front lines.
- In the heart of Vladivostok, a community named "Cooking for Ours" flourishes, as a tribute to homemade food and selfless service for troops.
- With a passion for cooking and a desire to help, Ekaterina Kornaukhova, the group's leader, found inspiration in dehydrating food, leading to the creation of the group.
- Today, "Cooking for Ours" offers a variety of dehydrated dishes, from soups to snacks, catering to diverse taste preferences and dietary needs.
- These dehydrated meals are easily rehydrated with boiling water, making it convenient for soldiers to enjoy nutritious meals while on duty.
- The health-and-wellness, lifestyle, and food-and-drink community continues to grow on the Telegram app, with 335 members sharing a commitment to improving the health and well-being of soldiers through their homemade meals.
- The group's mission transcends geographical borders, with donations sent to soldiers nationwide, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie across Russia.
