New Britain, Conn. – In 1990, Ukraine was still under Communist rule. Packages had to be wrapped in paper, tied with string and contain only new clothes. But a stalwart group of five parishioners at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in New Britain, Conn., braved the obstacles and began sending packages of aid to one orphanage and one parish in Lviv. It was then that the Bundles for Ukraine Project was born.
The Bundles for Ukraine group gradually expanded its mission. It began sending packages of aid tailored to individual families recommended by Ukrainian Orthodox priests. Also sent were wheelchairs, crutches, walkers and even musical instruments. The group participated in the Ukrainian Orthodox League collection of medical supplies. This expanded effort required a great deal of money for shipping – running over $14,000 a year.
Facing economic reality, the group decided to focus on St. Nicholas Day gifts of children’s clothes, toys and candy for the children in orphanages and poor children in the villages. We sent to 51 locations from eastern to western Ukraine. Orthodox priests oversaw the distribution. The monetary demands for this more narrow project were manageable.
When the war in eastern Ukraine erupted, we realized that not only Ukrainian soldiers, but also their families and many refugees needed help. We began collecting warm winter clothing and footwear for adults and children. We began receiving letters from Orthodox priests in western Ukrainian villages telling of the many refugees and families whose sons and husbands were on the frontlines. Through one of our parishioners, we also had personal ties to two refugee camps in Odesa that counted 135 children. The parishioners and friends responded. In September, we sent out 82 large packages of aid to the needy.
We then returned to our mission of sending St. Nicholas Day gifts. In October we sent out 42 large boxes of children’s clothes, toys and candy to the orphans and poor children in the villages. A wonderful cadre of Orthodox priests that we communicate with will distribute the gifts to the poor children in their villages and will deliver the gifts personally to the orphans to make sure they receive them. This year our total shipping costs were almost $6,000.
Working for 25 years on such a humanitarian project sometimes gets discouraging with the realization that there are so many needy and so few to help. Just when we despair, however, we receive a letter from one of the priests telling us of the children’s joy in receiving the gifts, often the only “bought” toy they have ever had.
Our fellow Orthodox bolster our spirits with their help. Ron Kichton, UOL president of the parish in Youngstown, Ohio, drove to Connecticut to deliver 15 boxes of clothes for the refugees. Misty and Matt Duke of Memphis, sent clothes. Alexandra Prychodczenko of Salem, Ohio, marshaled the entire community to collect clothes and toys and has sent an average of 12 heavy boxes a year for the past five years in memory of her son, Michael.
Donations of items and money for shipping come from the generosity of parish members, parish organizations and friends. All money goes for shipping expenses. Volunteers meet each Wednesday to sort and pack items, and wrap and address boxes.
These workers are Father Andrii Pokotylo, Oksana Pokotylo, Christopher Pokotylo, Christine, Stephanie and Anya Melnyk, Jaroslawa Buczko, Stefan Melnyk, Lester Sirick, John Nickleach, Irene Melnyk, Maria Pekhnik, Julia Stepanczak and many others. This writer is chairperson for the project. Dimitry Shafran translates all the requests and thank-you letters.
Those wishing to help with the project should e-mail [email protected] or [email protected].