SANTA BARBARA CHEF GOES TO POLAND TO COOK FOR UKRAINIAN REFUGEES.

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” Mother Teresa

Katie Teall of The Cookery Catering in Santa Barbara had just hosted a lovely brunch for a dozen fortunate women on a chilly Sunday morning. She decided quickly to get on a plane the following Saturday, flying to Poland to contribute as a chef for the World Central Kitchen.

 Katie’s words: The logistics and organization of ‘World Central Kitchen’ is something I have never witnessed. Over eight thousand meals came out of the warehouse kitchen we were working in.

Tens of dozens of dedicated people from all over the globe are volunteering their time to peel, chop, cook, package, and deliver food to the Ukrainian refugees in dire need.

Mostly women, children, elderly and handicapped are staying in either makeshift tents or on cots in the local closed Tesco supermarket and who knows where else.

 Many are sleeping on the cement floors in the train station with their pets through absolutely no fault of their own. Thousands are coming through then bussed out to other countries with no end in sight.

The stories are enough to make you weep. Human trafficking predators lurk, trying to take advantage of these poor people. The Polish guards are doing an amazing job at protecting them. 

Tomorrow I will be helping with more prep and some deliveries to border crossings and the train station.

The crisis is absolutely real and beyond devastating. 

Genuinely I feel guilty and almost depressed coming back to my nice hotel, knowing that I will be safely home in a few days.

How can this be Europe in 2022?

Thank you for every donation to the World Central Kitchen, every penny counts.

I am very proud of my brave friend Katie who flew to Poland and gave her skills and time. She is amazing, and her words opened my eyes and heart to the realities and simple, heartbreaking details of the refugees. I am happy that Katie is a hard-working Santa Barbara woman and has a fundraiser to continue to help those in need. Reminding me how special Santa Barbara is and how one person, no matter where they come from, can make a difference.

A special thanks to Jose Andres and his wife Patricia, founders of the World Central Kitchen that has fed untold thousands of those in need.  “World Central Kitchen started with a simple idea at home with my wife Patricia: when people are hungry, send in cooks. Not tomorrow, today. You’d be amazed at the power of a plate of food. It can change the world, and so can you.”

Katie Teall Cookery Catering Santa Barbara; for more information about Katie, go to her website at Cookery Catering of Santa Barbara.

 Katie Teall and her husband, Paul Teall, are hosting a fundraiser at the Maritime Museum in Santa Barbara Sunday, June 19^th 6:00-9:00 P.M.

For all book purchases made in the next six months, one hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to World Central Kitchen; order a copy now.

My Mantra: “Thank you, Katie Teall. May you be deeply blessed for helping others.”