Principle #5 – See your heroes bigger than they see themselves.
We’ve had another fun-filled couple of weeks. Our friend, Chris, from St. Louis, visited for a week. We went to a couple of Padre games, a John Legend concert (OMG…he was so good), and celebrated Chris’ birthday!
Chris, Cindy, and Dana
John Legend concert!!!
I’ve crossed paths with thousands of people, but sometimes special people enter your life that make you feel like you’ve known them forever. Well…that’s Chris. I met him years ago while I was consulting with his company. We worked together for weeks on end for many years. I admire his love and commitment to his family, friends, and work endeavors. He lives his values with kindness and integrity. He’s one of my heroes that I feel so very lucky to have in my world. We had a fantastic week laughing and catching up.
Last week was hero week in the children’s room at the Świetlica Dębniki Community Center in Kraków, Poland. Children painted a picture of their favorite hero character. The pictures turned out beautifully and are being displayed on the walls of the community center.
Children paint their hero characters.
Having a snack after painting!
The painted character pictures…beautiful!
We all have heroes in our lives. Heroes help us through tough times and give us hope for the future. They are compassionate, selfless, and empathetic. We all need heroes…even children.
“I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.” – Mayo Angelou
My heroes are the women who help Ukrainian women and children at the Świetlica Dębniki Community Center. When the war started, Olga and Łucja wanted to help Ukrainian women and children fleeing Ukraine. And their vision has blossomed into creating a warm and inviting place for Ukrainians to connect with each other. The community center has been so successful that it has hired Ukrainian women to help in the office, daycare center, and food/clothes pantry.
These women connect every day with other Ukrainian women. They share war trauma and experiences of leaving their loved ones and homes behind in Ukraine. And because they understand this, they know what services are the most beneficial. They have created workshops for arts and crafts, a library, cooking classes, and yoga classes, to name a few. All of these women are resilient and are happy. Even with the devastation in their homeland, they have made a life for themselves and other Ukrainian women in Kraków.
“Strong women stand together when things are rough, hold each other up when they need support, and laugh together when there’s no reason to.” – Womenworking.com
Olga, Łucja, and the team of Ukrainian women have made a big difference in so many lives. They are definitely making this world a better place! Thank you for your tireless dedication to helping women feel worthy and welcome at the community center. I admire your compassion, empathy, and love.
If you would like to help support these women and the community center, please see the bottom of the email for ways to donate. Thank you for following our journey and the journey of our new friends in Poland. I feel lucky to have you as part of my trusted circle. Be positive and stay safe. #peaceforukraine #lovewins #empowerwomen
Much love,
Cindy
HOW TO MAKE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UKRAINIAN RELIEF INITIATIVE
All contributions are fully tax-deductible through HCC, our registered 501(c)(3) passthrough charity.
TO CONTRIBUTE BY CHECK:
Make your check payable to **Hispanic Community Council** – (VERY IMPORTANT: not to Ukraine Relief Initiative) and send it to the following address:
HCC – URI
c/o John Kersey
208 Liberty Street
Warren, PA 16365
Please indicate “Ukrainian Relief Initiative” in the check memo and include a note with your contact info (address, phone, email).
TO CONTRIBUTE ELECTRONICALLY BY PAYPAL:
Use this link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=WMYJHS9UVMWY2. PayPal goes through the “Hispanic Community Council,” our 501(c)3 passthrough organization.
In the memo, please include your name, address, phone #, and email so we can process your tax receipt.