From now until the end of school, we will be collecting slippers, pajamas, warm but lightweight blankets and winter clothing of any kind. The items can be new or used (as long as they are in good shape) and of any size. At the beginning of July, everything we have collected will be sent to Pogorzel by boat, to arrive there at the beginning of September, when the weather begins to get cold.
Pogorzel is a small, rural community in northeast Poland. The climate is similar to that of Buffalo, New York. It was a collective farm community under the communist rule, but the land was not returned to the farmers when communism fell. The unemployment rate is over 40% and most families live on less than $1/day. Many of the families have 8 or more children and some have had to send their oldest children to the orphanage because they could not feed the whole family.
The Help Children in Pogorzel, Poland Foundation is a non-profit organization that is run entirely by volunteers. We collect donations of clothing, toys, household items and school supplies throughout the year. Financial donations of any size, to help cover the cost of shipping, are appreciated as well.
Other opportunities to get involved include:
Sponsoring a child
Sponsoring a family
Sponsoring a classroom
Volunteering to pickup or wash donated clothing
Getting donations (toothbrushes from area dentists, unsold items from yard sales, etc.)
Helping with other fundraising efforts
If you wish to send a financial donation directly to the school in Pogorzel, the account number is # PKO BP Goldap dla SP Pogorzel Poland 42102047240000310200075226. Or you can make a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation and 100% of your donation will go to help the children and families in Pogorzel. We can also help with guidance, advice and translation services. If you have any questions, contact the founders, Elizabeth Zaremba-Swat and Christopher Swat, at helpchpog@yahoo.com or (203) 353-1963.
