COEUR d’ALENE — Her restaurant is bright and busy. But there's a war raging in the heart of Ukrainian native Svetlana Petersen, who's lived in Coeur d'Alene the past five years with husband Matt and their two daughters.

Petersen's father, Nikolay Delas, 62, isn't just fighting for his country in Kyiv; he very well could be fighting for his life.

Petersen’s mother, Nina, fled Ukraine to join her daughter in safety a few days before war broke out, but Nikolay stayed behind to battle the Russian invasion.

Sustaining a gunshot wound on Feb. 28, he is now recovering in a Ukrainian hospital.

“We don’t know the details, but we know he was shot in the hip,” Petersen told The Press. “He had an operation, is recovering and doing better.”

She's been able to communicate with her father via phone several times. The burden she and her family carry isn't apparent as they hustle around the restaurant they own and operate, Malvagio’s in Coeur d’Alene.

On Tuesday, Petersen was greeting guests with smiles, offering food and beverages.

To support Ukraine’s citizens, the Petersens are using their restaurant to raise money. Chef Kahleea Eckert prepares 10-gallon batches of savory, Ukrainian red borscht soup. A hearty bowl costs $10, and 100% of the proceeds go directly to Ukraine.

“We need to do something about it. We need to stand, because we are half-asleep in our abundance,” Petersen said. “We need to learn empathy, learn compassion. If you are not doing anything, you will be partnering with evil. We need to know about (the war), to see what’s going on and understand.”

She busies herself constantly, running the restaurant, preparing meals, washing dishes and caring for her family. But she can’t keep her thoughts from turning to the “humanitarian aides that kept being bombed,” she said.

“Over 200 schools they just destroyed,” Petersen said. “And (here) we are scared of the price of gas.”

Malvagio’s raised $3,000 in support of Ukraine last week — and Petersen knows the amount is “like a drop in the ocean.”

Yet her optimism is far more than a drop. She said working with others is how “we will create an ocean.”

The community's response has been tremendous, said Chef Eckert.

“It’s been overwhelming and humbling. Everyone has been so patient and supportive. Everyone wants to talk to Lana and offer their support,” Eckert said. “There’s just so much going on and it’s hard to help if you don’t know how to. People saw the opportunity and jumped on it on their lunch breaks and came pouring out. Everyone’s been loving it.”

Petersen’s commitment extends to supporting her mother and family. Her mom hopes desperately to be reunited with her husband, but no one knows what condition her home in Kyiv will be in or when she might be able to return.

“My mom is shattered,” Petersen said. “She won’t have a country, she won’t have a place. You don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Her unshakable hope keeps her imagining a warm hug from her father again, she said. During a recent phone conversation with him, she told him that he, too, needs to hold on to that vision.

“So he’s here with me now. Nothing might happen. I need to believe it,” she said. “I do believe that if I keep working on my vision, he will get better. We will find a way. God will find a way.”

Malvagio’s, 4055 N. Government Way, Suite 7, specializes in wood-fired pizza. It offers appetizers, pasta dishes and salads as well as a wide array of beverages.

The dining room is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. For more information call 208-667-0661, find them on Facebook or at malvagios.com.

Every Friday and Saturday until further notice, Malvagio’s will also serve borscht in support of Ukraine.

Find Malvagio’s website here.