Sangerville church to support Ukraine with potluck Saturday

SANGERVILLE — A church in Piscataquis County is cooking up traditional dishes from Ukraine and raising funds to support the country as it nears the one-year anniversary of a long and devastating war with Russia.

The First Universalist Church of Sangerville & Dover-Foxcroft — at 11 Church St. in Sangerville — is hosting a Ukraine-themed potluck at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25.

Friday, Feb. 24, marks a year since Russian troops began a full-scale invasion in Ukraine, relentlessly bombarding their neighbor and shattering civilian life in much of the country. The Universalist church’s potluck is a small way that the community can celebrate and show its support for Ukrainians staying strong during a destructive time, said Tom Kemp, the church council’s president. 

“We have had a Ukrainian flag on our door for a while,” he said. “Most of the people who attend the church are very socially and politically aware and concerned and tuned into the injustice of that conflict.”

The Ukraine-themed potluck will continue recent plans for dinners focused on different countries and cultures.

Last month, the church hosted a German dinner, and it was Kemp’s idea to focus on Ukrainian fare this month. Irish dishes are planned for next month in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, he said.

Kemp encouraged those who plan to attend to find recipes online and try their hand at a Ukrainian dish, though there will be a variety of foods.

“One woman is making a big pot of borscht,” he said, referring to the hearty, traditional beet soup known for its distinctive red color. “I’m going to make some stuffed cabbage rolls.”

The church will accept donations to support a relief fund doing good work in Ukraine, though organizers haven’t chosen an organization yet, Kemp said.