Cupcakes for Ukraine: Montreal duo bake up sweet idea for war-torn country

While baking cupcakes may just be a small gesture, Alu and Pozihun know they're making a difference and have already seen the ripple effects of their initiative.

High school student Sophia Alu and her stepmom Lindsay Pozihun have been baking up a storm this past week, making hundreds of cupcakes.

The goal is to raise money for the people of Ukraine following Russia’s invasion and continued aggression in that country.

“It’s kind of unbelievable,” said Pozihun. “It’s hard to watch the news. It’s so emotional.”

Pozihun explained she’s part Ukrainian and although her family has been in Canada for generations, she still feels a strong attachment to the community.

“We still celebrate some traditions … and we always have some traditional dishes at family get-togethers.”

And while Pozihun’s family is safe in Canada, she has many friends in the Ukrainian community who have loved ones still in Ukraine.

“Chatting with them this week has been really eye-opening and sad,” she said. “That’s kind of why we started to try and help in any way that we can, even if it’s small to start with.”

Pozihun’s day job is as an inspector for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, but both she and her stepdaughter share a passion for baking.