The heartbreaking images on the television of their family’s homeland of Ukraine was too much for one New York family to bear. Together, they came up with an idea to help those in need and rally together to comfort one another during the hard times Ukraine is facing.

For Montgomery resident Larissa (Laba) Fitzpatrick, her Ukrainian roots run deep with her grandparents coming to America to escape the war decades ago. Her grandfather fought in the war and was injured but eventually escaped. “For all of this to be happening now is just chilling to me,” Fitzpatrick shared of the war in Ukraine and the images she sees in the media.

With the war in Ukraine weighing heavy in their hearts and minds, Fitzpatrick shared her family members decided they needed to do what they could from here at home in New York. “To fight for Ukraine is in our blood,” she explained, and from that fight, their homegrown project was born. “I think we felt helpless and this was a way to not only be together as a family, but also to do something that was benefitting the people of Ukraine,” said Fitzpatrick.

With their beloved ancestors as their driving passion, the family formed Baba Aid for Ukraine, named after the matriarch of their family, Maria. Together, they make varenyky, known as pierogies in North America, and began selling them as a pop-up. With family members in various parts of New York including Astoria, Yonkers and Montgomery, the army of a dozen partnered together to sell pierogies for a cause. In total, the team has made over 3,000 pierogies for the second pop-up with the possibility of more to come in the future. In Baba Aid for Ukraine’s first round of fundraising, they raised over $20,000, thanks to purchases, donations, and a matching fund program.

“Our hope is to keep raising awareness about what’s happening in Ukraine,” explained Fitzpatrick, going on to say Ukrainians have been fighting for years. With Ukraine being in the media on a national level and across the globe, Ukrainian-Americans are able to do their part to feel connected to their homeland.

When asked what her ancestors would think about the family’s efforts Fitzpatrick shared, “I think they would be so proud of us. We’re trying to give back to our people in a way that we can.”

All proceeds from the second pop-up will be donated to Razom for Ukraine and Come Back Alive, organizations providing aid on the frontlines in Ukraine. For more information about future pop-ups visit babaaid.org.