Bulgrin, owner of Culver restaurants on Todd Drive and Cottage Grove Road in Madison and McFarland, said Tuesday’s business has been strong so far.

“It was awesome,” she said. “The people who come are very friendly and there to help. So it’s been wonderful. I couldn’t be happier.”

She said she couldn’t predict how much money the effort might bring in.

Bulgrin said she watched the news and realized that the Ukrainian people, the refugees and those inside Ukraine, were in dire need of food.

“They are struggling mightily,” she said, noting that she had read that some hadn’t eaten for three days.

World Central Kitchen is rapidly expanding its #ChefsForUkraine response to distribute food – including hot and fresh meals – in five countries. It has opened a kitchen and a food supply depot in Poland, on the border with Ukraine, and has several active warehouses in Lviv where trucks are filled with food to reach cities like Odessa and Mykolaiv, according to the site. Organization’s Internet.

It also helps restaurants serve meals in Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv and Kyiv, which remain under active attack, according to its website.

As a restaurateur, Bulgrin said, she feels compelled to help raise funds for food and water.

“There is a real crisis,” she said. “People go without… Looking at this, I said, ‘What can I do?’ And one of the things that I’ve learned is that there’s a wonderful organization called World Central Kitchen that goes to those areas that are in desperate need and they cook for the people. train people who are on the ground, and they work with them to try to do whatever they can to feed people.”

Andrés started the organization in 2017, focusing on Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

“It’s amazing what they’re doing,” Bulgrin said. “Whether it’s Ukraine or any other country that desperately needs it, I just wanted to make sure the (Ukrainian) people realize that we’re here to help and support them.”

Eric Skrum, a spokesman for Culver’s, said the majority of restaurants in Culver are independently owned and operated, and participating restaurants donate 10% to 100% sales amounts.

He said “Make Your Meal Matter” signs are posted at participating Culver restaurants.

Culver Franchising System owns and operates six restaurants that donate 10% of Tuesday’s sales to World Central Kitchen efforts, Skrum said.