Charlotte baker will return to Ukraine to help orphans and widows

Context: Betancur owns Manolo's Bakery in east Charlotte.

• He's traveled to Eastern Europe twice before — first, to help feed Ukrainian refugees in Poland; six months later, he went to Ukraine to help rebuild a bakery that Russian soldiers had invaded.
• With the help of funds raised by Charlotteans, he collected and donated $18,000 between both trips. That helped pay for two ovens for the aforementioned bakery and a van for bread delivery.

Why it matters: This time, Betancur will be partnering with an organization based out of Ukraine that helps widows and orphans who've lost their loved ones during the war.

"The war has not stopped; it has intensified. There is internal migration, more children without parents, more widows, more hunger, and more poverty, so they still need our help, bread, food, clothes, warmth, hugs, and prayers."

How it works: 10% of all sales from Manolo's Bakery king cakes for Mardi Gras will be donated to the cause.

• Alternatively, you can donate online.

What's next: Betancur will depart for Ukraine on Feb. 18. He'll be there through Feb. 25 — nearly two years to the date when the invasion began.