Teamwork – Together, We Can Do So Much

Principle #7 – We Choose to be Unstoppable in Our Help for Our Ukrainian Friends

 

It’s just the beginning of a cold winter in Poland and Ukraine. But there’s warmth in the Świetlica Dębniki Community Center. The Ukrainian team hosted a gathering for the URI and KDU leadership teams. And we made dumplings!!! We were welcomed with love and laughter, and we enjoyed our time together. I have to admit, I wasn’t great at dumpling making…I needed a lot of help! And Matt thought he was a pro…whatever!!! See the pictures below.

The URI/KDU leadership teams continued discussing the current challenges and long-term plans. We have big news…we are opening another community center to enlarge our capacity! We are working through the weekend to complete the project and implementation plan, and we’ll share the details when they’ve been ironed out. If you would like to help fund the next community center, see the donation instructions below…please note the new PayPal link and address for sending checks.

Intense planning deserved intense fun. The teams gathered at local restaurants and toasted the future of URI and KDU. Even though we only met eight or nine months ago and live across the globe, we feel like we have known each other for years. I don’t have the words to say how grateful I am to be a part of this group of loving people. Thank you, new friends, for your big hearts and love for humanity.

We enjoyed a Kraków Christmas tradition, the Kraków Christmas Market in the main square. It’s the most popular market in Poland, and people visit from all over the world. What a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.

Santa came to the Świetlica Dębniki Community Center! A hundred neighborhood children visited his house (shown in the photo below), where the secret entrance only occurs once a year. There were games and activities, including a Shadow Theater performance prepared by Tatiana Nikolaeva in cooperation with the Theater of Figures Kraków. Followed by gifts for the children. There were many smiling faces as they enjoyed the St. Nicolai celebration. Check out the videos, children dancing https://youtu.be/xGt41TA2qFI, shadow performance https://youtu.be/y2e02W_HAzs.

 

We had a busy week, and it passed so fast! Matt, Ethan, and Andy left Kraków on Wednesday. We had fantastic planning sessions, and it was sad to see them go. But, together, we see a bright future for Ukrainian families through the Świetlica Dębniki Community Center and the addition of a new center. And with the help of you and your donations, we can help fund these fun and beneficial activities and services for our new Ukrainian friends.

“Relieve the crisis. Thoughtfully. With discipline and Heart. Now.”

If this humanitarian effort speaks to you, please consider giving. Donation information is at the bottom of the email with the new PayPal link and address for checks. Thank you so much for your kindness and compassion. Together we can do so much; remember URI + KDU: “1 + 1 = 1,000”. We are one team, one heart, and one world! Be positive and stay safe. #supportukrainians #hopeforpeace

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.