Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery Donating Funds for Ukraine Humanitarian Effort
HAMMONDSPORT, NY (WENY) -- A local winery with Ukrainian roots is doing its part to help the people of Ukraine who are fleeing violence in their country, due to the Russian invasion.
Almost 5,000 miles separates Hammondsport, New York from Odessa, Ukraine. But for the descendants of Dr. Konstantin Frank, Ukraine, it was their family's home for generations. Dr. Frank was born in Ukraine, and earned his PhD from Polytechnic University of Odessa. Frank, along with his wife Eugenia and their children, fled Ukraine during World War II, eventually landing in the Finger Lakes. The winery he created is now taking steps to support Ukrainians in need.
"He spent over 30 years of his life working in research and experimentation in vineyards in Odessa. So Odessa had been our family’s home for five generations, until they fled during WWII and came to the United States," explained Meaghan Frank, Dr. Frank's great-granddaughter. "We feel really that Konstantin’s resiliency, and Eugenia’s resiliency, my great grandparents, really stemmed from growing up and being in Ukraine through all of these conflicts, between the Russian revolution, WWI, WWII, and that really set him up to accomplish what most people thought was impossible."
Dr. Frank was one of the first in the United States to grow European grape varieties in the Finger Lakes, helping launch what is now a thriving wine region. He opened the winery that bears his name in Hammondsport in 1962.
Fourth generation winery operator Meaghan Frank says they wanted to do something to support the people of Ukraine during this time of crisis. Throughout the weekend of March 4th through 6th, the winery will donate 50% of its proceeds to World Central Kitchen; a humanitarian organization helping provide meals to Ukrainian refugees. The organization provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises, while working to build resilient food systems with locally led solutions, according to their website.
"I think for our family, thinking that they were refugees during a past crisis, thinking about how we could support people through food was another wonderful idea for us, because being in the wine industry, obviously we are growing grapes, the raw product is a food. And we really consider wine a food, and communicating that kind of food is love, you’re nourishing somebody, it’s a very important part of any relief effort," Meaghan Frank said.
Frank said the feedback from customers of the winery has been very positive, as they want to help support the people of Ukraine. She said the Frank family still has relatives living in Ukraine, and are worried for their safety. Communication has been tough, due to the violence and devastation happening in the country.
"For us to make that commitment, and for them to feel good about that commitment too, to have this kind of unified community going through this process together in doing something small, that hopefully will make a small difference for some of those families that are fleeing right now," Frank said.
