Ukrainian baker who raised $150K for her home country helps family reach safety amid Russia-Ukraine war

A Ukrainian baker primarily based in Texas who has raised greater than $150,000 to assist Ukrainian conflict efforts has additionally been capable of assist her household flee to security. 

Anna Afanasieva, 28, is initially from Odesa, Ukraine, and at present lives in San Antonio, Texas. She’s been within the U.S. for eight years.

Her household was in Odesa when Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, however just lately they have been capable of depart the nation, first for Moldova, then Romania. They’re proper now settling in Turkey till they will return house to Ukraine, Afanasieva advised Fox Information Digital in an interview.

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“It was actually onerous,” Afanasieva mentioned of when her household was nonetheless in Ukraine. “I imply, it nonetheless is. However not less than I do know that now they’re protected.”

She added, “Watching the information each day, it’s fairly intense. I nonetheless have lots of associates dwelling there, even in Kyiv. A few of them — they’re unreachable. There’s no reception. We don’t actually get in contact with them.”

‘The toughest half’

Afanasieva spoke to Fox Information Digital from Istanbul, the place she was serving to her family members settle into their momentary house. 

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“The toughest half was to persuade them to [leave Ukraine], as a result of everyone needed to remain there,” Afanasieva mentioned. 

“However I spotted, it’s simply not very protected for the time being.”

Afanasieva’s mother and father (pictured right here) had been in Odesa when Russia attacked Ukraine on Feb. 24, however just lately they left the nation — first for Moldova, then Romania. They’re at present settling in Turkey and anticipate to return to Ukraine someday.
(Anna Afanasieva)

Afanasieva mentioned that many individuals she is aware of aren’t “realizing what’s really happening.”

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“Till it’s really occurring to you, if it’s occurring some other place, even in a neighboring metropolis, you continue to don’t actually — you may’t understand it,” Afanasieva mentioned. 

“The toughest half was to persuade them to [leave], as a result of everyone needed to remain there. However I spotted, it’s simply not very protected for the time being.”

When she reunited along with her household this previous Monday, Afanasieva mentioned it was the primary time she’d seen them in three years.

That is as a result of the coronavirus pandemic over the previous two years prevented her from touring to Ukraine. 

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“I’m actually completely satisfied, to start with that they’re protected,” Afanasieva mentioned. “And at last we had been capable of see one another. It’s been a very long time.”

‘The least we will do’

Afanasieva runs Laika Cheesecake and Espresso, a bakery she opened in San Antonio in December 2020. 

Proper after Russia invaded Ukraine, Afanasieva introduced on Fb that her store would donate all of its gross sales from Friday, Feb. 25, to Sunday, Feb. 27, to assist the Ukrainian military. 

Laika Cheesecake and Espresso held a fundraiser final month to assist the Ukrainian military after Russia invaded the nation. 
(Anna Afanasieva )

Afanasieva advised Fox Information Digital that the concept for the fundraiser “got here very naturally.”

“That is the least we will do,” she mentioned.

In one other Fb publish after the fundraiser, the bakery introduced it had bought greater than 4,500 items of cheesecake and that some 3,000 individuals had visited the bakery over the weekend.

Many individuals waited as much as three-and-a-half hours to buy gadgets and make donations.

Even after the bakery was bought out for “hours,” individuals nonetheless waited in line to donate, the publish mentioned. 

Afanasieva advised Fox Information Digital that she didn’t anticipate the neighborhood to reply in such an enormous means. 

“It appeared like the entire metropolis confirmed up,” she mentioned. 

Afanasieva advised Fox Information Digital that the concept for the fundraiser “got here very naturally.” The road outdoors Laika through the fundraiser is proven right here.
(Anna Afanasieva )

“We clearly didn’t anticipate something like that. I believed it would get a little bit bit busier than standard, however then abruptly, we get to the store on Friday and there’s a line outdoors the door — round the entire block, principally,” she mentioned.

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Afanasieva advised Fox Information Digital that Laika remains to be accepting donations to assist the Ukrainian military and that up to now, the bakery has raised about $150,000.

Through the fundraiser weekend, Laika Cheesecake and Espresso bought greater than 4,500 items of cheesecake and had roughly 3,000 individuals go to the bakery. 
(Anna Afanasieva )

“The quantity is growing each day,” Afanasieva mentioned. “We actually obtain checks within the mailbox and even money. Persons are sending money from everywhere in the states.”

She added, “We had been actually shocked to find so many individuals had been really prepared to assist.” Afanasieva mentioned she’s “actually grateful” to the San Antonio neighborhood. 

“We didn’t anticipate that a lot response from the American individuals,” she mentioned. 

“We had been actually shocked to find so many individuals had been really prepared to assist.”

Afanasieva is planning to make use of the cash to purchase provides for the Ukrainian military and get them to Ukraine, although the planning and logistics are difficult, she mentioned.

‘Actually proud to be a Ukrainian’

Immediately, greater than two weeks after the fundraiser, Afanasieva mentioned enterprise is booming for Laika Cheesecakes and Espresso. 

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“We’re nonetheless promoting out each day by 3 o’clock,” Afanasieva mentioned. “Usually we open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.”

Afanasieva advised Fox Information Digital that Laika remains to be accepting donations to assist the Ukrainian military and up to now, the bakery has raised about $150,000.
(Anna Afanasieva )

Although it’s been troublesome for her to observe the information concerning the assaults on her place of origin, Afanasieva mentioned she’s additionally experiencing pleasure in her nation for “in all probability the primary time in my life,” she mentioned. 

“I’m actually proud to be a Ukrainian,” Afanasieva mentioned. “I’m actually completely satisfied to be part of this nation.” (She is a everlasting resident of the U.S.) 

“I actually hope all of that can be over quickly for my individuals, for my nation,” she added.