Joe Sarnovsky is set to use the cooking skills he developed at George Brown College to prepare food for refugees of the war in Ukraine.
A recent graduate of the Culinary Skills program, Sarnovsky leaves for Przemysl, Poland on May 28 to join World Central Kitchen (WCK), an organization that provides meals to people affected by humanitarian, climate and community crises.
“When this conflict came up, I didn't know what to do. I felt helpless. I donated money and I took part in some Toronto rallies, but I still wanted to do more," he said. “I found out about World Central Kitchen and that, combined with the training that I got at George Brown seemed like a pretty good fit.”
George Brown is proud to help Sarnovsky with his volunteer work in Ukraine. He reached out to President Dr. Gervan Fearon asking if there were funds available to cover the costs of his travel. Fearon expressed his support and commended Sarnovsky for his efforts.
“In the midst of difficulties, it is the kindness and generosity of individuals that help to provide another glimpse of our possibilities and humanity,” Fearon said.
The George Brown College Foundation provided $2,000 to cover the cost of Sarnovsky’s trip expenses.
“We applaud Joe for his efforts in supporting the people affected by the war in Ukraine and using the skills he’s learned at George Brown to help others,” said Dr. Cindy Gouveia, President of the George Brown College Foundation and Vice-President, Advancement, George Brown College.
“The support from George Brown has been overwhelming, really,” Sarnovsky said.
The Student Association of George Brown College has also shown support for World Central Kitchen, donating $2,500 to the organization.
A personal connection to the conflict in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine also has deep personal connections for Sarnovsky. His grandparents came to Canada from Ukraine in the early 1900s and his family continues to celebrate Ukrainian traditions.
“Ukrainian culture has been a big part of my life,” he said. “I’m always proud of my Ukrainian heritage.”
Sarnovsky flies to Warsaw and will then take a six-hour train ride to Przemysl near the border of Ukraine where he’ll spend seven days working with WCK preparing and possibly distributing meals.
After a career in auto manufacturing, a shift to cooking
Sarnovsky came to the George Brown Chef School after nearly three decades at the Oshawa General Motors plant, where he accepted an early retirement package at the start of the pandemic in 2020. After that, he turned what had been a hobby into a serious pursuit, earning an Honours Certificate in Culinary Skills in December 2021.
Sarnovsky said he was eager to put his new skills to use in helping others.
“Once I was done with my program, I wondered about working in a soup kitchen or a shelter,” he said.
And it’s no surprise. Sarnovsky is a longtime volunteer with a variety of organizations. He’s currently a member of the board of the United Way of Durham Region and has taken part in many wide-ranging volunteer efforts with his former union at GM, Unifor Local 222. He has also volunteered for the Toronto International Film Festival.
Sarnovksy said many of the chefs he learned from at George Brown also work with charities, which provided him with inspiration to use his new cooking skills to help others. He also shared advice for anyone interested in donating their time to a charitable cause.
“I have the labour background which really instilled in me the importance of giving and I've helped out many causes, as many as I can,” he said. “I would encourage people to keep their eyes open for something that they really believe in and to really go for it.”
Update - May 29, 2022
Sarnovsky arrived safe in Przemysl, Poland.
