York bakery salutes the women of Ukraine with unique fundraising initiative

A York bakery is paying tribute to the women of Ukraine with a unique fundraiser.

Doe Bakehouse, on Church Street and Layerthorpe in York, has launched a donut themed around International Women’s Day today (Tuesday, 8 March) – specifically celebrating the spirit of Ukrainian women. 

Assistant manager Ellis O’Brien said: “For International Women’s Day it’s important to celebrate women in all walks of life – and a lot of people who work for us are women.”

She added:

Unfortunately there is this massive conflict going on in Ukraine which we felt it was right to support.

We figured not only can we celebrate the strong and powerful women everywhere in the world but more specifically the women in Ukraine who are struggling and are fighting for what they believe is right, and we believe is right.

The donuts cost £3.25, the same price as the usual donuts . All the profits raised today will go to a Ukrainian charity, to be chosen from suggestions by Doe Bakehouse’s followers on social media.

Each donut features an inspirational Ukrainian woman, quote or fact, as well as having blue and yellow icing, the colours of Ukraine’s flag. 

Among the women featured are Anastasiia Lena, a former Miss Ukraine who joined the Ukranian troops to defend her country; and Valentyna Konstantynovska, a woman who has been trained by the military to defend her country against Russia – aged 79. 

“We want everyone to celebrate not only women, but women who are standing up for what they believe in,” Ellis said.

She said “it would be amazing to sell out”. It was a way to celebrate “amazingly strong Ukrainian women”, and show solidarity with a people who are suffering “horrible atrocities”.