It didn’t take very long for TCU Place to sell out two separate takeout dinners for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.
With 500 meals available for each dinner, the combined 1,000 meals will raise roughly $13,000 toward food packages, medicine and shelter to those struggling in Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion.
Tammy Sweeney, the CEO of TCU Place, said it was surprising to see how many people took an interest in the meals in so little time.
“It was really incredible to see the community support and to see our team rally,” Sweeney said.
“This was a brainstorm we had one morning and then by lunchtime, it was executed on our end. It was up on sale for the public the next morning.”
Sweeney said the first dinner sold out later that first day before organizers decided to go ahead with a second one. That dinner sold out in just a couple of hours.
With support pouring in for those in Ukraine, Sweeney says it feels like forever since everyone in the province has been unified following the division created by COVID-19 and other politics.
“We feel blessed that we were able to offer this and that the community was able to come together so quickly and so well,” she said. “Mending the divide that’s been among us for so long is really great.”
The first takeout meal is scheduled for Saturday, with the second one slated for next Friday.