Pierogies for Peace sales to help Ukraine

By Mark Ribble

LEAMINGTON — What started as an idea among friends, grew into a sold out fundraising effort involving more than 50 local volunteers cooking, forming and packaging pierogies.

The Pierogies for Peace project began with Carrie Izsak, Shirley Driedger and Brenda Fischer, and blossomed beyond their friends group to others in the community as about 35 volunteers showed up to prep, cook and distribute authentic pierogies from the kitchen at UMEI Christian High School.

Charlotte Lane and Judy Cornies display a finished tray of pierogies.

Adding to that, there were no out-of-pocket expenses as Bradt’s Butchers Block, Southwestern Ontario Gleaners, Zehrs and Speedprint made sure that the group had everything they needed.

According to one of the organizers, Carrie Izsak, it took only seven days from the idea to the event.

“I’ve never seen a group of people organize in such a short period of time,” she said.

The group decided early on that they would use Carrie’s grandmother’s authentic Polish recipe, even though the vast majority of volunteers were from the Mennonite community.

The Polish pierogies contain mashed potatoes, cheddar cheese and onion, while the Mennonite version — Wereneki — contain dry cottage cheese.

From left, Mary Kraus, Kathy Fischer and Dave Brown prepare the dough.

SUN photos

The organizers all feel a connection to Ukraine, since many of this area’s Mennonite families originally came from Ukraine in the early 1900s.

“That gave us such a sense of connection,” said Brenda Fischer. “It’s a labour of solidarity with the people pf Ukraine.”

And the group is issuing a challenge to other groups to step up and do the same.

“We’d like to challenge other groups to do the same,” says Shirley Driedger. “We’d love to see this mushroom and continue.”

The group took pre-orders for 3,000 pierogies, selling them for $10 for a 10-pack of the delicious European treats.

Brenda Fischer, Carrie Izsak and Shirley Driedger with many of the volunteers behind them.

They met on Saturday, March 26 at UMEI, working hard all day with a well-organized production line. By Sunday, they had sold out all of their pre-orders.

The money raised will go to MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) Ukraine.

Those who have missed out on pierogies can still make a donation by contacting Shirley at sdriedgr@sympatico.ca (no second “e” in the email address). A tax receipt can be issued for donations.

For those who were successful in placing pre-orders before they were sold out, you can pick up your pierogies on Friday, April 1 (4-6 pm) and Saturday April 2 (9 am to noon) at Leamington United Mennonite Church, 78 Oak Street East.