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Retired Unifor Local 222 member Joe Sarnovsky, who served his local for several years as communications director, is in Poland as a volunteer cook for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion.
“It is quite an emotional experience,” Sarnovsky said from Przemysl, Poland, where he is volunteering with World Central Kitchen. “I’ve met some incredible people – Ukrainians fleeing the war, and volunteers from around the world.
After retiring, Sarnovsky enrolled in the culinary arts program at George Brown College in Toronto. He jumped at the chance to take his newly acquired skills to the homeland of his grandparents and help out any way he can.
“The chance to offer some comfort to these wonderful people as they worry about their homes and their loved ones still in Ukraine has been very rewarding,” he said.
“Sharing food can be the best way to show someone you care about them.”
Besides helping prepare about 35,000 sandwiches a week, many large pots of soup, different proteins, plus salads and desserts, Sarnovsky volunteers evenings at the train station a couple of days a week distributing food, tea, coffee and treats for the children to new arrivals.
“This activism is a direct result of my union education, which began at Port Elgin many years ago with the International Solidarity course.”
The food made at the Przemysl kitchen is distributed to nine different locations serving refugees - two at the local train station, an abandoned shopping mall being used as a temporary shelter and at numerous border crossing locations.
