New Jersey retiree founds package service to fulfill his mission of mercy (06/13/99)

New Jersey retiree founds package service to fulfill his mission of mercy

by Camilla Huk

RUTHERFORD N.J. - Those who believe that being Ukrainian is synonymous with goodness, caring and generosity can cite Michael Horvath as an example. Quiet, soft-spoken, he is not the sort of person you would focus on in a crowd. Yet he is the one who focuses on the needs of others.

We first met more than 10 years ago when we worked together at Hoffmann La Roche. He was the one you called when you needed technical help with your computer; he was also the one who managed to find one of the first Ukrainian software programs for me. I remember reading some of the letters from Mr. Horvath's relatives in Ukraine, all of which began with, "Slava Isusu Khrystu" and "Slava Ukraini." These letters led Mr. Horvath, a first-generation American, to travel to Uzhorod and Mukachiv seven years ago to visit his relatives.

When he saw the deplorable living conditions in the Zakarpattia region, Mr. Horvath returned with a mission: a mission of mercy. Utilizing his relatives in Ukraine, and inspired by his wife, Henrietta, who urged him to "do something" since she knew that, even as a retiree, Mr. Horvath had more energy than most, he sprang into action. Mr. Horvath decided to help raise the standards of living of his relatives and others in Ukraine with a humanitarian aid, package and freight consolidation service founded in 1992 that came to be known as Ukraine-Pac.

With the support of his parish, St. Michael's Cathedral in Passaic, N.J., the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic, and its former eparch, Bishop Michael J. Dudick, and the continued support of Bishop Andrew Pataki, the current eparch, Mr. Horvath managed to ship liturgical items, including complete vestments, chalices and icons - all donated by such groups as the Sister Theresa Roman Catholic Church, Medjugorje Prayer Group in Massachusetts - to Catholic bishops in the Carpathian regions of Ukraine and Slovakia.

Thanks to his and others' efforts, the Bishop Theodore Romzha Seminary was dedicated in Uzhorod, and liturgical items are now found in some of the Catholic churches of Ukraine that previously had none.

Mr. Horvath has also helped orphanages, such as the ones run by the Basilian Sisters in Mukachiv and Lviv. He said he was deeply moved when he visited these orphanages and heard the youngsters sing the "Otche Nash" (Our Father), as they fell on their knees in thanksgiving for the clothing and toys he'd brought. Mr. Horvath recalled that he thought of his own three daughters, all now grown and pursuing professional careers, and how much they had in their lives compared to these youngsters.

Mr. Horvath didn't stop at providing toys. He has supplied Ukrainian dentists with equipment donated by retired dentists in the United States. Four years ago, in an attempt to combat the deadly Colorado beetle, which had attacked the potato crop in Ukraine (the Colorado beetle had first contaminated potato production in 1936, when it was imported to Europe via the Berlin Olympics), Mr. Horvath sent a hybrid potato, known as the "hairy potato," developed from a Peruvian potato for planting in Ukraine.

Unfortunately, the heavy rainfall last summer destroyed the project's crops entirely after three years of propagation. Thus, even today, potato beetles must be picked off by hand, as they are capable of destroying an entire crop within three days. This is due to the fact that pesticides are not widely available in Ukraine.

Knowing that if there were no potatoes to eat after the November floods, there would be none to plant, Mr. Horvath sent 5,000 pounds of potatoes, some of which are also being planted in the hopes of producing a crop this year. He also sent canned foods, vegetables, fruits and meats - five containers full - for the flood victims.

Another recent shipment to Ukraine included 50 cartons of medical supplies and over a ton of macaroni in addition to seeds, farming equipment and clothing.

If readers have extra toys at home, religious articles and/or clothing, Mr. Horvath says he will find good use for it all and is willing to come pick up such donations. He recognizes that this work follows the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who said: "I was hungry and you fed me; naked and you clothed me."

To get in touch with Mr. Horvath, call Ukraine-PAC, (973) 831-5899. To make a donation to offset the costs of shipping please make checks out to "Aid for Ukraine" (in order to qualify for a tax-deuctible donation) or directly to Ukraine-Pac and mail it to: Ukraine-Pac, 230 W. Parkway, Unit 9, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444.

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