"People are in need. It’s terrible, there’s not a lot of food left in the shops"

Monday 21 March 2022

The owners of a Jersey pizza firm are donating all their profits from tonight’s sales to help people in Ukraine, where they have relatives.

With the ongoing war following Russia's invasion, Michael Steer and his partner Natalia Baker, are becoming increasingly worried for their friends and family in the country.

They told Express: “People are in need. It’s terrible, there’s not a lot of food left in the shops, there’s not a lot of money.”

"Everybody in Ukraine is now affected by cut government budgets due to war, and have to survive as they can. The donations on the Government level are dispersing, until it will reach simple people so I have to help my family and people around in need," Natalia commented. 

“That money can buy some very essential food." 

Picture:  Life before the War. Natalia Baker has family and friends in Ukraine who cannot leave the country. 

The couple explained that they were raising money for people in Ukraine, and also the animals there too. 

“We just want to split it between helping the zoo and people there.”

People in Jersey have already been raising funds for Ukraine, with the help of local humanitarian aid charity Side by Side. So far, that appeal has raised more than £76,000, adding to donations from Jersey Overseas Aid. 

Picture: Natalia's nieces and nephew have to sleep at that Bomb Shelter/Garage whilst Russian missiles attack above them. 

Natalia said that friends and relatives are hiding in bomb shelters in order to protect themselves.

“No one is allowed to go out. They’re attacking in the night."

"I have a doctor in my family as well, her name is Julia,  she works at Odessa Hospital in the Emergency Department" she said, adding that "her wage is now 0.25%" of what she was earning before. 

Natalia and Mike will be opening the Fresh Crust Pizza Company in St. Helier tonight from 17:00 until 20:00 for collection and deliveries, and are hoping to sell out to help raise as much money as they can.