Last spring, as many Ukrainians fled the country to seek asylum, Lucas Wilcox was already on his way. Two months prior, Russia invaded eastern Ukraine. The 40-year old Homer resident was traveling by train from Poland to Lviv, a western Ukrainian city. Wilcox was on a mission to create large, off-grid kitchens for people fleeing their homes.
Wilcox did not know that Lviv would be struck by the largest missile strike yet at that time.
Wilcox stated, “The conductor comes through the doors and whispers to each car something urgent.” “Everybody shuts off the lights, closes the blinds, and then sits down quietly. Then suddenly, everything is pitch black and it’s completely silent.
Wilcox and other passengers remained silent in the darkness for two hours before the train arrived at Lviv station.
Wilcox was visiting Ukraine for the first time. He didn’t know anyone or spoke Ukrainian.
It may seem foolish or brave to travel into war zones, but this is what Wilcox does.
Altruist Relief Kitchen (or ARK), is his non-profit organization that helps displaced people. This includes refugees from Tijuana, Syrians in Lesvos, and Texans who were displaced by Hurricane Harvey.
Wilcox was a student at Kachemak bay Campus in Homer when the idea for the organization emerged more than a decade back. Wilcox stated that ARK’s mission is to provide food and supplies to off-grid areas, as well as being adaptable to a range of situations. The concept was born out of the tumultuous events that were taking place around the world.
He said, “The financial crisis, the Arab Spring, and Occupy Wall Street all occurred during that time.” “I concentrated my efforts on creating an aid organization that could respond to many types of events.
Wilcox stated that another goal is to make the organization transparent, as he describes it. He’s also skeptical about how other aid agencies might use their funds, and he wants to change the model. All of ARK’s receipts are posted on the website. The organization has recently been granted 501(c),(3) non-profit status.
Now, ARK is staffed by a few dedicated volunteers from across the United States. Wilcox stated that his current role is to engineer and construct structures that are mobile enough to host large groups.
For example, the field kitchen that he set up in Ukraine looks like a huge tent. It measures over 1,300 feet in area, large enough for a school bus to fit inside.
Wilcox said that many of the materials used in the construction were salvageable.
He said, “The tent is made from recycled drilling equipment, stoves are made of recycled steel barrels and pots are made of stainless steel kettles.”
The structure wasn’t salvageable, so it was bought in or near Lviv. Most of the work was done by Ukrainians who fled war zones or lived in the affected areas. Wilcox stated that they receive a “survival wages” of about $25 per day. Wilcox stated that the goal is to keep and bring money into the region.
He said that the whole thing was made in Ukraine using local materials. “All the money we spend on this project goes completely to Ukraine.”
Six wood stoves are located in ARK’s tent at Lviv. They meet in the middle of a large stack that serves both as a heat source, and also as a cooking method. The kitchen can cook 75 to 100 gallons per month, which is 30,000 to 50,000 meals.
Wilcox claimed that the kitchen is the first in a series of such facilities. It is located on the grounds of a Catholic Church, and is used temporarily to house refugees. While missiles can be heard in many Wilcox’s videos , he stated that the location of the kitchen is relatively secure.
Wilcox stated that despite the fact that there’s a steady rain of missiles hitting the country, they are really targeting infrastructure. First, energy infrastructure and then healthcare infrastructure. Bridges, rail stations, and other such things. A stray missile could strike a small church in a suburb of a city, but it’s unlikely.”
Wilcox’s October visa expired so he is currently in Homer. However, he plans on returning to Ukraine in the latter part of this month. He stated that this winter, his work has never been more important.
It is home to 40 million people. Wilcox stated that 10 million people are currently internally displaced or have left the country. As the energy infrastructure is constantly taken out, that number will only increase.
Wilcox stated that the ARK kitchen would begin serving Ukrainian meals “anyday now”.
