Edmonton chef joins war effort in Ukraine helping feed the front lines
An Edmonton chef has taken his talent overseas to support war efforts in Ukraine.
Since moving to Kyiv three months ago, Cory Woods has been spending most of his time cooking for soldiers on the front lines.
“I’ve never had people eat my food who are as appreciative as these guys are,” Woods said.
Woods grew up engaged with his family's Ukrainian Heritage. He attended Ukrainian immersion school, took Ukrainian dance and sang in the choir at his Ukrainian Orthodox church.
"My Ukrainian identity has been a huge part of my life," he said, but added he grew apart from the community as he got older.
"When the invasion started last year, a lot of that came back to me very quickly."
Following the conflict on Twitter, Woods said he was frustrated and angry he wasn't doing more to help. So, he connected with a charity in Ukraine called the Magic Food Army.
"Our primary mission is to ensure that these troops are fed daily and have the caloric intake that they require to successfully go about doing their missions,” Woods said.
Now, for 14 to 16 hours each day, he works with other volunteers to keep front-line troops well fed.
“These guys come in and you can tell when they’ve had a hard day," he said. "When they’re leaving, they’re shaking our hands, giving us hugs and having laughs over their meals. You can see the effect that it has on them.”
Woods works and lives close to the action. The kitchen is just 30 kilometres from a warzone on the eastern border of Ukraine and when he's not at work, he lives in Kyiv.
“Kiev is under near constant bombardment," he said. "I’m often sitting out at night watching the air defense do its job. . . it is hard, it takes a toll."
In addition to supping soldiers, the Magic Food Army is in the process of helping the Ukrainian Armed Forces develop a standardized food delivery service – something Woods said is heavily involved with.
“We don’t know how much money we’re going to have to stock the cooler, to buy proteins and so every day is a bit of a challenge in trying to ensure that the boys have variation in their meals,” he said.
Despite the danger and long hours, Woods said his time in Ukraine has been fulfilling and he's started the process of becoming a permanent resident.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Calgary police shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers dealt with a distraught individual. The incident lasted almost 20 hours.