On a winter evening in Washington, DC, old and new friends of Ukraine came together to learn, share stories, and enjoy the unmistakable comfort of Ukrainian food at a demonstration kitchen in Navy Hill at Cooking for a Cause: A Varenyky Cooking Class. Hosted by the Alliance for Ukraine in partnership with RPCVnexus, the event celebrated Ukrainian culinary heritage while raising vital funds for community-based Peremoha mini-grants that fund humanitarian relief projects in Ukraine. The sold-out evening invited guests not just to cook, but to connect – across generations, professions, and personal ties to Ukraine – through one of the country’s most beloved dishes: varenyky.
Varenyky: A Tradition Passed on from Generation to Generation
Tatiana and Oksana demonstrate the traditional method for preparing varenyky dough. Photo Credit: Jordyn Iger
Guests were guided through the art of making varenyky by three generations of Ukrainian women: Tatiana, Oksana, and Yana. While the trio demonstrated hand-mixing the dough, Tatiana, who recently retired from teaching high-school math in Virginia, explained the cultural significance of varenyky. The hand-stuffed dumplings are often prepared for holidays, family gatherings, and moments of celebration. Oksana, who works in cultural exchange, shared more about the versatility of these beloved dumplings, including the many sweet and savory options for filling the varenyky; cheese, fruit, sour cabbage, potatoes, mushrooms, and even meat are used in Ukraine, with fillings, shapes, and cooking methods varying by region and family.
As the dough rested, guests sampled two styles of borshch and Ukrainian salads. They also shared stories of their Ukrainian connections, and for multiple Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who served in other parts of the world, food recollections from their own Peace Corps service.
Yana (right) collects filled and sealed varenyky from guests, including RPCVnexus Events Coordinator Meigan Nachtrieb (center). Photo Credit: Jordyn Iger
Learning by Doing—and Doing Together
After demonstrations, participants divided into small groups to fill and seal their own varenyky dough circles. With guidance from their Ukrainian teachers, guests learned practical techniques for filling their dough circles with potatoes and a sour cabbage/mushroom mixture. The camaraderie formed with their tablemates reminded several RPCVs – and the guest chefs – of past varenyky-making parties attended in Ukraine.
Completed dumplings were collected, boiled, and lightly fried, transforming individual efforts into a collective meal that everyone could enjoy.
Food with a Purpose
In her opening remarks, Alliance for Ukraine Board Member Sandy Jacobs emphasized that the evening was about more than food. Proceeds from the event, including donations and sales of Babusya’s Kitchen cookbook, provided direct support for the Alliance’s Peremoha mini-grant program, funding resources such as community kitchen equipment, winter supplies for internally displaced families, first aid materials, and internet access for students continuing their education during wartime.
Alliance for Ukraine Board Member Sandy Jacobs welcomes guests and
shares the mission behind the evening. Photo Credit: Virginia Pasley
“These are the same communities that once hosted us as Peace Corps Volunteers,” Jacobs noted. “Tonight is a way of our Peace Corps community in Washington, DC showing up for Ukraine – together.”
The varenyky cooking class is part of a broader gastrodiplomacy fundraising campaign sponsored by the Alliance for Ukraine. In February 2022, a team of RPCVs came together to publish the grassroots volunteer cookbook used during their Peace Corps service in Ukraine as a fundraiser for relief efforts. The second edition of Babusya’s Kitchen cookbook, which Tatiana and Oksana used in making their varenyky dough, was released in November 2025 and has raised over $120,000 to-date for Peremoha mini-grants. In recent months, Alliance volunteers have sold cookbooks at holiday fairs and Ukrainian cultural events, facilitated a cookbook discussion at a California bookstore, and leveraged Babusya’s Kitchen social media accounts to raise awareness of Ukrainian culinary heritage.
Shared Tables, Shared Impact
Freshly prepared varenyky, the result of a collaborative effort. Photo credit: Virginia Pasley
The evening concluded with dessert, tea, and reflections from RPCVnexus Events Coordinator Meigan Nachtrieb, who highlighted the RPCVnexus mission to support Returned Peace Corps Volunteers through career coaching, mentoring, and professional development.
As guests lingered past the event closing, paging through cookbooks, exchanging contact information, discussing the incoming winter storm, and savoring the final bites of varenyky, the atmosphere felt unmistakably warm. As a winter storm moved towards Washington, DC, Cooking for a Cause provided a much welcome reminder that cultural exchange, when paired with purpose, can be both joyful and impactful.
Gratitude and Looking Ahead
The Alliance for Ukraine extends heartfelt thanks to Tatiana, Oksana, and Yana for sharing not only their culinary expertise, but a meaningful expression of Ukrainian identity; to RPCVnexus for their partnership; and to everyone who attended, donated, and helped make Cooking for a Cause such a success.
Through food, community, education, and impact, the Alliance for Ukraine will continue to stand with Ukraine.
Разом ми – сила. – Together, we are strong.