Principle #7 – Nothing can Stop the Power of Unity and Love
Today is the URI/KDU fundraiser at Koi Zen Cellars in Carmel Mountain – 12225 World Trade Dr. Ste. P, San Diego, 2:00 pm-5:00 pm! Organizing this event for you and our Ukrainian friends in Kraków, Poland was a lot of fun. If you are in San Diego, I welcome you to join us at Koi Zen today…we are ready for you to come and relax, listen to good music performed by Gerald Dukes, bid on artwork from local artists, have meaningful conversations with friends, and make a few new friends. At the same time, you can enjoy a glass of wine from the #1 winery in San Diego, Koi Zen Cellars. And we will have a special guest join us via Zoom! If you are unable to attend but want to help, see the bottom of this email for ways to donate. Thank you for helping us relieve the crisis of hundreds of Ukrainian families. URI + KDU: “1 + 1 = 1,000”
“Relieve the crisis. Thoughtfully. With discipline and heart. Now.”
The Świetlica Dębniki Community Center expansion is complete!!! After long hours of renovating and organizing the opening, it opened as scheduled on February 18. The KDU team welcomed Ukrainian and Polish families in the Dębniki district with hugs, smiles, and a lot of food and fun! It was a success!!!
“We want to thank all of our volunteers because they doubled and tripled their efforts to make this day possible. And nothing would be possible without our friend at Ukraine Relief Initiative!” – Fundacja Kocham Dębniki
Children having fun in the courtyard of the community center.
Children in one of the new meeting rooms in the expanded space of the community center.
This mom’s face says it all as she looks at her son with love!
There was quite a crowd at the community center expansion opening celebration!
Lucja and Lena, tired and happy as they look at the smiling faces of their new friends!
Remember I mentioned last month that a local artist in Kraków, Marcin Wierzchowski, was going to paint a mural on the wall of the community center expansion? KDU asked Ukrainian women who come to the community center to write a few words or phrases about what the community center means to them. The mural is finished and is rightfully named “Wings of Power.” And the words friendship, carefree, about us, creative, support, unity, and hospitality were incorporated into the mural. It’s absolutely stunning!
“Wings of Power” mural by Marcin Wierzchowski
Olga Piasecka Niec – KDU Executive Director
It’s been a year since Putin and his soldiers invaded Ukraine. We will probably never understand the kind of hate of a man to destroy a peaceful country and its people simply because he wants their land. But this is what an authoritarian regime looks like. People gathered outside Russian embassies worldwide on February 24 to support Ukraine and its people. KDU and the Dębniki district joined thousands of Poles in Kraków for the “Together to Victory” demonstration. The plan was to march from the Main Market to the Square, but there were so many people which made it nearly impossible to actually march. Won’t you join me in hoping for peace this year for Ukraine?
“WHEN THE WAR IS OVER, WE ARE GOING HOME.” This is what Lena, the coordinator of Świetlica Dębniki, told journalists. She’s the first person that Michał Piasecki brought from the Ukraine/Poland border to KDU in Kraków. We love Lena and our new Ukrainian sisters and friends who have come to KDU and our community center. We wish them to return to their home in Ukraine even though it may be difficult.
Our beautiful Lena – community center coordinator.
At the beginning of the war, we had 200 Ukrainian families in the Dębniki district, now, there are 700, and that number is still growing. With the Świetlica Dębniki Community Center expansion, we can help more families. You and your donations have made a difference in welcoming these resilient women and children in Kraków. Please consider another donation… No donation is too small. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your love and compassion have touched me deeply. Thank you for being in my circle of light! We are one team, one heart, and one world! Be positive and stay safe. #supportukrainians #hopeforpeace
Much love,
Cindy
P.S. I hope to see you today at the URI/KDU fundraiser at Koi Zen Cellars in Carmel Mountain – 12225 World Trade Dr. Ste. P, San Diego, 2:00 pm-5:00 pm.
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.