Glaswegians queue round the block for Ukraine bake sale
A Ukrainian couple have opened their bakery in Shawlands to raise money for people in their homeland
Last updated 6th Mar 2022
Hundreds of people have queued around the block on the southside of Glasgow to support a Ukranian couple raising money for the relief effort with a sale at their bakery.
Yuriy Kachak, who owns the Deanston Bakery in Shawlands, said he felt “helpless” as news of the Russian invasion unfolded and decided to raise funds for people who have been affected in his homeland.
Mr Kachak, from the Ivano-Frankivsk region in western Ukraine, has lived in the UK for 19 years and moved to Scotland four years ago with his wife Svetlana, who is from Latvia.
He told Clyde 1: "I feel grateful, but if anyone came here and missed out on baked goods - we are very sorry.
"We didn't expect so many people to come in. We should've made more, but it's one of those things - we've never done it before.
"People are very, very generous. What's happening in Ukraine has touched many hearts. Thank you to all."
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Katy West is a friend of the couple and made her way along the queue, encouraging people to buy raffle tickets.
She said: "The turnout it just incredible. And I think Yuiry and Lana are the only people who're surprised by that, because they're so important to the community now, that it's just testament to how people feel about them and the war just now.
"There's absolutely no way we've got cakes for everybody. Although, I have to say, in terms of community support, bringing baking has been incredible as well.
"We'll do what we can, but people are still standing in the queue knowing that they probably won't get cakes - it's just incredible. It's really, really touching."
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Before the fundraiser event began at 11am, the bakery had already raised a total of £6,000 to support the ongoing humanitarian effort.
Alla Neklesa, who is from Ukraine but has lived in Glasgow for five years, told Clyde 1: "You think that your £2 is nothing, but altogether - wow, that's wonderful.
"It just shows that it takes one person to start something and then the whole community can join in. My heart is full of tears of joy, really, to see so many people. It's just great.
Ms Neklesa, who has family living in Odessa and whose brother is staying in the city to fight, added: "I think people in Ukraine need this support more than ever with everything that's going on and as fighting intensifies. It's fantastic."