What does it take to make more than 5,000 pierogi and 2,000 cabbage rolls?

Starboard Grill owners and staff tallied the numbers after their wildly popular, seven-day Ukrainian feast fundraiser: 200 pounds of cabbage, 130 lbs. of potatoes, 100 lbs. of onions, 40 litres of sour cream, 44 lbs. of rice, 16 litres of milk, 170 lbs. of flour, 15 lbs. of cheddar cheese, 66 lbs. of ground beef, 33 lbs. of ground pork and 86 lbs. of PeteB次元官网网址檚 Mountain Meats kovbasa.

The result was 1,030 orders of Ukrainian feast, which raised $16,455 that will be sent to the Canadian Red Cross for Ukrainian Humanitarian Effort.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e blown away,B次元官网网址� said Kelly DeClercq, who co-owns the Port Alberni restaurant with husband Brad, who is the chef. B次元官网网址淲e had no idea what we were getting into as far as orders.B次元官网网址�

They ran out of meals every day, sometimes by 1:30 p.m.

Staff amassed 431 paid labour hours during the week-long fundraiser. They dealt with a broken commercial-grade Kitchen Aid mixer because head pierogi maker Gaylene Ruel made so many batches of dough. There was no heat in the restaurant, the kitchen was crowded thanks to all the extra help and staff fielded hundreds of phone calls.

Those staff hours did not include the time that volunteers like Lynn Mickalko from Porto Taco or Kathy Krznaric, former owner of Little Bavaria, put in making hundreds of cabbage rolls and pierogi, nor the DeClercqsB次元官网网址� time. B次元官网网址淏rad was at the restaurant most mornings at 5 a.m. and stayed until usually after 8 p.m. each night,B次元官网网址� said Kelly.

B次元官网网址淢y fingers are numb from rolling cabbage rolls,B次元官网网址� chef Brad DeClercq said.

DeClercq puts on a Ukrainian feast every January, and itB次元官网网址檚 always popular. A regular customer and someone who is close to the staff suggested they bring it back this month to help support the people of Ukraine, whose country is currently under attack from Russian military forces.

B次元官网网址淭his was our ninth year in January doing Ukrainian food. ItB次元官网网址檚 a nice comfort food to do in January,B次元官网网址� Kelly DeClercq said. The March fundraiser, which ran from March 17B次元官网网址�23, was put together quickly. PeteB次元官网网址檚 Mountain Meats came in on a weekend to prepare more kovbasa when the first batch ran out. Quality Foods stepped up when something went sideways with StarboardB次元官网网址檚 cabbage order from another supplier.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been emotionally overwhelming with the comments from people on what we were doing,B次元官网网址� Kelly said.

The DeClercqs thanked their customers who supported the fundraiser. B次元官网网址淲e did not expect this turnout and are grateful to everyone who dined in, opted for takeout, gave extra donations and said so many nice things.

B次元官网网址淚t has been a hard two years with COVID-19, restrictions, the clock tower construction and uncertainty if the city will renew our lease, as we would like to stay,B次元官网网址� they said.

B次元官网网址淭o be able to hold this fundraiser and send $16,455 to the people of Ukraine has been an amazing and emotional experience.B次元官网网址�

susie.quinn@albernivalleynews.com
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