d light

D Light Cafe & Bakery is the first Ukrainian cafe in the DMV and one of the most incredible restaurants we’ve ever had the privilege of working with. Sisters Vira Deruna and Anastasiia Derun, both immigrants from Ukraine, opened D Light with the dream of sharing the Eastern European treats they had grown up with. Their cafe took on an entirely new kind of significance after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as their focus shifted to fundraising in earnest for relief to Ukraine. Since the war began, they’ve raised $25,000 to send back to their home country, continuing to support the Ukrainian war effort even as their cafe suffered through a devastating fire and recent burglary.

GUES had the incredible opportunity to speak to Vira not only about her cafe’s *delicious* food, but also about her experience getting her restaurant through such tragedies while also supporting such an important cause.