Ukrainian Couple Donates Coffee Shop Profits To Humanitarian Efforts

A coffee shop in Coweta is owned by two Ukrainian refugees. They have given a portion of their income to a Christian ministry helping people in Ukraine.

The owners at Wild Child Coffee are both Ukrainian refugees. They’ve always helped their home country of course, the need now is even greater.

The shop opened last summer. Oksana and her husband, Andrew, said the community response has been incredible.

“It was overwhelming," said Andrew.

Andrew and Oksana moved to Oklahoma from Seattle back in 2009—and stayed here. Their journey hasn’t been easy.

"I was 6, and she was 5, there is little we remember about the country," said Andrew.

In 1990, Oksana and Andrew’s families fled Ukraine as refugees. They said their parents had wanted to leave sooner but couldn’t. Oksana said it was a hard life, especially for their religion.

“You were not allowed to gather," she said. "You would do it at night in the middle of the night.”

“If you didn’t have their beliefs, there were consequences," said Oksana.

She’s devastated about the current war and possible aftermath. She still has family there.

Since opening the shop, 25-percent of their proceeds has gone to Christian mission, Ebenezer, to help Ukrainians. 

The mission is giving 100-percent of the money toward humanitarian efforts for people in need in Ukraine.

She and Andrew said people in the town have constantly been supportive and she hopes the support will continue.

“When people love on you and support you, you feel like we’re all humans, and I’m an Okie now too," said Oksana.