San Remo resident Khrystyna Rayner is fundraising for Ukraine, her home country, by making Paska bread, a Ukrainian traditional food that is baked for Easter.
The mother of three, and an Australian citizen, says it is the least she can do for her family, and her country, from the other side of the world.
“I moved to the Central Coast at the end of 2009 when I married an Australian.
“My family is in the West of Ukraine, in a town called Lviv – it is the place I grew up and my brother, aunty and cousins all still live there.
“I haven’t managed to get back in five-and-a-half years, when my mother passed away.
“I had planned on going back again, but then the pandemic hit – I don’t know when I will be able to make it back now and see my family … I fear I won’t make it back for a very long time,” she said.
Khrystyna explained that an exodus of refugees is well under way, including some of her family.
“The women and children are being moved out across the western border.
“The last time I spoke to my family, more than 150,000 women and children had made it over to Poland as refugees.
“My cousins have taken their wives and children to Poland,” she added.
She explained that the war is uniting all the people who are left behind in Ukraine.
“Civilians are making Molotov cocktails and trying to take out tanks with homemade ammunition.
“People are taking any metal they can find to make ‘hedgehogs’, tracks with embedded spikes that prevent tanks from moving, and putting (the hedgehogs) around the borders of their towns and villages.
“Men are finding concrete and building bunkers … they are building fortresses they can shoot from.”
Having settled in Australia, Krystyna says that she would have gone back had it not been for her three children.
She explains that the rest of her family do not want to leave Lviv.
“It’s their home.
“A Ukrainian friend of mine who also lives on the Central Coast comes from the East.
“Her family is hiding underground right now,” she said.
Ukrainian Easter (Paska) bread is a slightly sweet egg bread that can be decorated with religious symbols.
It’s traditionally taken to church on Easter morning in a special basket with other foods to be blessed.
Khrystyna said she is ready to make as many orders as possible.
While she intends to cover her costs, all profits raised will go to the Come Back Alive Foundation.
Kyiv-based Come Back Alive Foundation fundraises for Ukraine’s military, to aid soldiers and volunteers with supplies including equipment, drones, personal body protection and specialized software.
Co-organiser of the Invictus Games in Ukraine, Come Back Alive is a non-government organisation that supports training, psychological assistance, medical help, and other projects.
Its Facebook page (facebook.com/backandalive) shares stories, photos and videos.
Khrystyna explains that after Easter, when the bread is sold, she will post a proof of a donation.
People are asked to pay $25 for one bread, for pickup between 12 and 14 April.
Orders for Khrystyna’s Paska bread can be placed by email at khrystynarayner@gmail.com
Nicola Riches
Sorry we do not live closer otherwise I would order from you.
Here in Canberra I purchase my Paskas from the ladies from the Ukrainian Church now that my parents have passed on.
I am a friend of Suzy Luhowsky. We both grew up in Orange.
Do you have family still in Lvov?
My sister and I are still searching for any living relatives.