ODESA MAMA — Ukrainian Bakery & Kitchen

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Support ODESA MAMA — Ukrainian Bakery & Kitchen

Help us open a Ukrainian café in Ashland, Oregon — a place of warmth, tradition, and togetherness.

Donate today and become part of our story.

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ODESA MAMA — Ukrainian Bakery & Kitchen

A taste of Ukraine. A story of family. A place to feel at home.

Hello, friends!

Thank you so much for being here. It means the world to us.

My name is Liudmyla, my husband is Yevhen, and we are parents of three children. We’re originally from Odesa, Ukraine — a city we lovingly call "Mama."

Today, I want to share a piece of our life with you — a dream born from love, loss, and hope for a better future.

In 2022, when the war began, we were forced to leave Ukraine. It was one of the hardest decisions of our lives.

We fled with our young son, carrying one suitcase filled with books, toys, and only the essentials.

When our 7-year-old said, “Mama, I want to live,” we knew we had to go.

War destroyed our everyday life, but it didn’t take away our dignity, love, or dreams.

America became our second home. Especially Ashland, Oregon, a town that gave us safety, kindness, and a warm community.

Now, we want to give something back.

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✨ Our Dream — ODESA MAMA

We dream of creating a cozy Ukrainian bakery-restaurant filled with the smell of fresh bread, real borscht, crepes, varenyky (dumplings), and coffee brewed by Yevhen — a master with golden hands and a gifted taste.

We’ve been married for 27 years.

Although Yevhen was recently diagnosed with a herniated disc that limits his physical work, he’s more determined than ever to be part of this project. His coffee is legendary — friends visit just for a cup of it.

But this dream is deeper than coffee and food.

When I bake bread, I remember Ukraine. I remember the smell of dough in my mother’s kitchen. That aroma gives me strength.

It brings me peace and hope.

Baking helps me live, create, and support my family.

I’ve spent years perfecting my recipes — even developing a gluten-free bread that’s both delicious and healthy.

ODESA MAMA is more than a business.

It’s a place where friends gather, where music plays, and where it smells like home. A space full of warmth, tradition, love, and peace — something we all need right now.

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Why We Need $35, 000

We have the passion, skills, and experience — I even hold a Red Diploma in bread baking.

We have strong hands and heartfelt recipes. But to get started, we need your help.

Here's where the funds will go:

$18,000 — kitchen equipment (oven, fridge, counters, mixers)

$2,200 — space rental (deposit + first month)

$3,000 — licenses, permits, insurance

$2,500 — food ingredients

$800 — dishware, packaging, presentation

$500 — advertising, signage, flyers

$3,000 — emergency fund

Your support will help us create a small corner of Ukraine right here in Oregon — a place of comfort and connection.

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Why This Matters So Deeply to Us

We are going through hard times as a family.

In one month, I will be without work. And because of his spinal condition, Yevhen can no longer do the physical jobs he once could.

This café is more than a dream — it’s our chance to stay strong, provide for our family, and move forward with dignity.

It’s our way of creating, not begging.

Of working with love and purpose.

Of building something real and lasting in our new country.

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❤️ Every Dollar Matters

Even the smallest donation brings us closer to our dream.

We are so grateful for your support — and we’d love to thank you with:

A dish on the house during opening week

☕️ A cup of Yevhen’s special coffee

Your name on our "Friends of ODESA MAMA" wall

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Why the Name “ODESA MAMA”?

Odesa is a city where over 170 nationalities live side by side.

Its food is the language of the soul — a mix of Ukrainian, Jewish, Bulgarian, Armenian, and Greek traditions, blended into one warm, flavorful story.

Food is memory. Food is home. Food is love.

That’s what we want to bring to Ashland — and to everyone who walks through our door.