Halloween in Hell's Kitchen 🎃

 In writing to us about the Hell's Kitchen Halloween party last Friday, Liuda gave us a little history. In 2022 (the first year of Russia's full invasion), the Hell's Kitchen Team didn't celebrate any holidays until the fall (autumn) because they simply didn't feel like it. Then, unexpectedly, volunteers got together for Halloween and had such a fantastic time that, in the years that followed, people started asking, in advance, "Are we celebrating Halloween this year?" So, for "Hell's Kitchen, Halloween became a symbolic event, as well as an opportunity to take a few hours off from everyday problems and have fun.

The time, attention and care that went into the decorations and themed food were incredible.

The party lived up to my expectations, having attended last year's, and my costume (much the same as last year) showed that witches don't age!

Recently, my volunteer friend, Jos, and I had the privilege and fun of being members of a jury for a children's creative competition, run by the Kharkiv charity, Adults For Children. Over 7 days we were sent a multitude of videos and photos of children of all ages, presenting many talents, from arts and crafts, to dancing, music, poetry and gymnastics. It was an almost impossible task to choose three participants to receive prizes, as there was so much talent and so many entries, but one of my favourites was a video of a boy who speaks with engaging enthusiasm about his fishing hobby. I was pleased that he won joint 3rd prize. First prize went to a funky teenage acrobat, and second prize went to a talented boy on the piano. If anyone uses Instagram, you can see some of the many videos and photos here

https://instagram.com/adults_for_children?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The winners were given the opportunity to choose their own gifts and seem to have been let loose in a giant toy store!

Six additional prizes were awarded and, thanks to a generous, individual donation, consolation prizes, in the form of sweets, were bought for 50 other children. Adults For Children thank this donor "for the opportunity to make our children a little happier."

Something I didn't expect, all the arts and crafts were given to Jos and me to thank us for our support - some are decorating my flat.

The last moth - October - as reported by the mayor, was very intense for Kharkiv: Russia launched 80 strikes on the city, more than half using various types of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), as well as guided aerial bombs and a new tactic, FPV (First Person View) drones. 109 people were injured, including three children. One man died, who was cleaning the street when a kindergarten was hit. Explosions were heard in almost all districts of the city. Energy facilities, a private kindergarten, the second city hospital, the Barabashovo market and other business facilities, and dozens of residential buildings were attacked.

Sadly, another Hell's Kitchen volunteer lost a loved one, her cousin, on the frontline. This is a stark reminder, if needed, of the grisly, grinding nature of Russia's war. Many soldiers will have died during the writing of this blog, e.g. in the brave battle for Pokrovsk, 250 km south. But it increases our determination to do what we can to help and to think of what more can be done. There is no end to the need for good, nutritious food to aid recovery and we make this, 365 days a year, for some of the many hospitals in Kharkiv city.

Liuda sent this photo of the only meal provided to a wounded soldier on a medical evacuation train, on a journey of over 10 hours.

But she said that this is twice as good as the food provided for patients in some hospitals in the city, which, for various reasons, we cannot reach out to.

Hell's Kitchen foreign volunteers, when we have enough, are helping a church village bakery to make bread rolls, donated to villages in Kharkiv region.

It may not, necessarily, be food to aid recovery, but I have made parkin to introduce Hell's Kitchen volunteers to Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfire Night) in Great Britain. For the uninitiated, parkin is a ginger cake that originated in Northern England, traditionally made with oatmeal and black treacle, and eaten on Guy Fawkes Night, 5 November. It is also enjoyed throughout the winter months. I hope people like it!

Thank you for all donations. Franklin asked to give special recognition to an individual donor from England who contributes, monthly, to his ongoing fundraising for soldiers (currently for thermal wear). I sent two of his £50 donations to another charity that supports local soldiers, which were used to buy such essentials as these tools.

Thanks for reading this post and for your comments.

To make a donation to the regular causes I support, please open PayPal and, when asked for email, enter sunflower_house@hotmail.co.uk

You can specify where you would like your donation to go, including whether or not you wish to support a civilian only cause; otherwise I will send the money where I think the need is greatest. You can also make a donation to shelters for animals abandoned because of the war.

Adults For Children supports families displaced by the war, and also local soldiers.

Hell's Kitchen cooks daily, nutritious meals and bakes bread, for hospitals, wounded soldiers and others in need.

Franklin, Hell's Kitchen foreign volunteer coordinator, supports soldiers and medics on the frontline. Currently, he is raising funds for thermal tops and bottoms, and fleece jackets for soldiers.

Inya runs a small group of volunteers who make camouflage nets, ghillie suits and stretchers.