UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA
CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
PRESS RELEASE

BUNDLES FOR UKRAINE

Maintaining its devotion to the needy in Ukraine, this fall, the Bundles for Ukraine group at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in New Britain, CT has sent a record 5,650 pounds of aid to needy children and Orthodox parishes in Ukraine. At a cost of over $6,000, the group of 11 dedicated volunteers has sent 189 packages of children‘s clothing and shoes, toys, candy and school supplies  to orphanages, children’s hospitals, homes for abandoned infants, and Orthodox parish priests for St. Nicholas Day distribution. The orphanages are in Lviv Oblast, Kherson Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast and Odessa and gift boxes were sent to 35 individual Orthodox parishes all over Ukraine.

Donations of items and money for shipping come from the generosity of parish members, parish organizations and friends.  All money goes for shipping expenses. The group has established a network of Orthodox priests in Ukraine, who oversee the distribution of aid to the needy children.

Volunteers meet each Thursday to sort and pack items and wrap and address boxes.  These workers are Father Andrii Pokotylo, Pani Matka Oksana and Christopher, Yaroslawa Buczko, Ann Harris, Stefan Melnyk, Lester Sirick, Carol Speck, Katerina Sudyk, and Julia Stepanczak.  Dr. Joan Kerelejza is chairperson for the project. John Petruniw supplies all the boxes and Dimitry Shafran translates all the request and thank-you letters.

Anyone wishing more information should email Dr.  Kerelejza:  joankerelejza@cs.com.   The group would appreciate donations of money  for shipping. The group particularly appreciates the extensive donations of items for the children from Alexandra Prychodczenko of Salem, Ohio, who send them in memory of her son Michael.