Humanitarian aid news and list of current needs

Dear Friends,

We have formed The New Haven CT Ukrainian American Humanitarian Aid Fund which is a non-profit organization (pending IRS approval). As we have been since the beginning, we are made up of volunteers who receive absolutely no financial benefit.

The core of our group stems from leadership at St Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church, the Ukrainian American Veterans (Bishop John Stock Post 33), and the Knights of Columbus Council 16253, all of New Haven, Connecticut. We work closely with Father Roman Manulak, a priest with a team of people receiving and distributing the aid we send.

We supply humanitarian aid to people in Ukraine impacted by the war and in need, completely free of charge. Every dollar donated goes toward helping people in Ukraine.

Financial donations
NEW online platform for donations: https://app.autobooks.co/pay/nhct-ua-ha-fund

Would you consider making your donation today a recurring monthly donor in any amount?

You may send a check to:

Checks payable: NHCT UA HA Fund, Inc
Memo: Humanitarian Aid

Humanitarian Fund
St Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church
569 George Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Thank you very much for supporting our work sending aid to Ukraine.

Items needed

This week an advisory committee spoke with our man in Lviv, Father Roman, who shared some current needs for the soldiers, active and wounded. The following are the current needs:

  1. Dried, high protein souls and breakfast oatmeal. Stuff that you can add hot water, mix and eat. There’s a lot of nutritious foods available that are dried. Look for a good amount of protein.
  2. NEW Mens underwear, tee shirts, and tube socks. NEW Men’s pajamas.
  3. Diapers for children and for adults. Lots of wounded people.
  4. For the wounded: sterile gauze, nitrile gloves, AND stuff that make up a first aid kit.

We cannot accept clothing items except for what is noted above.

New Volunteering hours and collection drop:
Tuesdays from 5-7 pm, working in the church hall.
Saturdays from 8-11 am, working in the church hall.

If anyone has some extra plastic packing bubbles, donations would be helpful for filling any empty spaces in the boxes.

Mask usage is recommended.

Thank you for your help. It is greatly appreciated.

Peace to you,

Paul Zalonski

Generator arrives

Father Roman Manulak tells us today that the 30 kW power generator has arrived! Glory to God. Glory to Ukraine. This generator is going to the children of the Dobromyl Special school.

During the war, when the enemy, in the cold winter time, left this establishment, like all Ukraine without electricity, we bought a power generator, which became a real Christmas miracle-gift. The children of the Dobromyl Special school will be able to have light, heat and the ability to cook food, because everything is on electricity.

Thank you for all your generosity! We are grateful for the collaboration of Father Roman and his colleagues who oversee humanitarian relief projects. And God bless everyone of you who gave so generously so that these children with special needs will suffer less.

A Merry Christmas indeed!!!

Coats arrived in Ukraine

Yesterday, January 3rd, the container we packed with boxes of winter coats for kids, clothes and medical supplies on November 12, 2022 finally arrived to our people in Ukraine. Father Roman (our point person in Ukraine) AND his team have unpacked and distributed the donations.

Thank you for all your help!

On the ground in Ukraine

EWTN News in Depth (12/16/2022) has a review of the plight of our Ukrainian brothers and sisters. There are several pivotal interviews for our consideration.

Watch “On the Ground in Ukraine.” One of the groups the news profiles, the Order of Malta, is also a group that has helped us in New Haven with giving food and aid.

I am happy that we can collaborate with the Order of Malta assisting Ukrainians.

 

Our next shipment being prepared: cars, food and generators

During the first week of 2023 we will be sending three used cars and perhaps two military grade diesel generators. The used cars will be used to move people and goods in the dangerous areas of Ukraine. The Lviv Police made the request.

The generators are being sent to assist in providing more consistent electrical power in areas in dire need. These generators are locally sourced by friends of our Ukrainian Relief Project.

Father Roman Manulak, our on-site point person, is doing a brilliant job receiving the clothes, medical supplies and food being sent over to Ukraine. Father Romans knows the good guys well. He and his valiant team are shepherds of mercy!

What is needed: dried soups (for example, with beans and meat), oatmeal and Carnation Breakfast Milkshakes.

Many of you, our faithful friends, have donated a good amount of these food items. AND we are most grateful! We need a bit more to load into the empty cars. We can’t ship empty cars!

Shipping things costs lots of money. As with everything else these days prices of services have gone up. The price per pound has increased in the last month to over $3.oo per pound. If you can, a financial gift to cover the shipping of these things would be an added sacrificial gift. Online giving: https://givesendgo.com/G2ZXR

The collection will take place at St Michael’s church hall at 569 George Street, New Haven on Saturday, December 17, 10 to 2pm.

Soup, oatmeal and milkshake collection Saturday, December 10

I will be at the church hall on Saturday, December 10, 10-12noon if you would like to drop off any collected soups, oatmeal, Carnation milkshake mixes for Ukraine.

Also, I was asked yesterday to ask if there is a good, used (or new) refrigerator that you would like to donate to a recently welcomed Ukrainian family in East Haven. The new family is living with another family and one fridge is not enough.

Likewise, we are looking for a high chair for feeding a child.

Let me know.

PAX,

Paul Zalonski

Soup, oatmeal and milkshake collection Saturday Nov. 26

Dear Friends,

I hope you are well and that you are surviving Thanksgiving Day in good health and humor.

Several days ago I put out an email about collecting dried soups. We need soups with high protein things like beans and meat would be good.

The advice of a friend Steve and Sean we are looking into securing bulk soups. We need EVERYONE’S help to feed our Ukrainian friends.

With the good advice of our friend and coworker Jayne, the collection will also collect dried oatmeal like Quaker’s High Protein Oatmeal which is a very good, nutrient dense food. Each packet has 10 grams of protein.

Also, Carnation’s Breakfast Essentials (a milkshake) would also be good.

No date for sending these goods to Ukraine has been established, yet. Soon something will be decided.

In the meantime, I will be at St Michael’s church hall (569 George St, New Haven) on Saturday, 10-12Noon, to receive the above items. So, only dried soups, high protein oatmeal and the breakfast essentials. No expired foods, please.

Other collection days will be scheduled.

Peace,
Paul Zalonski

Thanksgiving Day 2022

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” (Meister Eckhart)

Thanksgiving is a time for us to recall and to deeply live the blessings of our lives, and to give thanks to God for His many gifts.

Let’s be grateful for what we have been given, both spiritually and materially, as we strive to courageously live the Gospel of Jesus Christ as Ukrainian Catholics. Thank you for your stewardship and all you do to serve the Lord and others in St Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church and community!

We are particularly inspired by the superlative work done for our brothers and sisters in our beloved land of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Relief Project New Haven has been working incredibly hard and with great success. The work of so many near and far is truly a gift to relish and to keep perspective. We are grateful!

Let’s be grateful for the gift of the Eucharist that we receive when we come to the Divine Liturgy. The word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving.” Indeed, what a superb blessing it is to be able to receive the Lord – body, blood, soul, and divinity – in the Holy Eucharist! This spiritual food strengthens us in our daily lives and on our daily journey to the Kingdom. The Eucharist informs and forms our lives to be fully alive in God.

Please know that you and your loved ones will be remembered in our prayers in a special way on Thanksgiving Day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

May Saint Michael the Archangel intercede for you and May God bless you!

Father Iura and Juliana

Keeping children warm in Ukraine

The Ukrainian Relief Project New Haven is providing coats for children in Ukraine. Your gift of just $25 will provide a coat.

Provide the gift of warmth to children in need today with a new coat!

Every $25 donated purchases one new coat for a child in need. Give the gift of warmth this winter!

We are able to secure coats for children at a discount.

The Ukrainian Relief Project New Haven will be sending the coats over to Ukraine. Join us in this effort.

Donate Now

Online: https://www.givesendgo.com/G2ZXR

By Check:

KofC Council 16253
St. Michael the Archangel Church
569 George Street
New Haven, CT 06511-5301

Checks payable to: KofC Council 16253
In the memo please write: St. Michael’s Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief Fund

Dried soups for Ukraine

Dear Friends,

I just got home after a meeting discussing humanitarian aid to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. As a community near and far from New Haven and Ukraine sent many thousands of pounds of winter clothing for those in need in Ukraine. I will report to you the details soon.

We have been asked to provide some food to be sent over with a few vehicles that have been donated. Both Father Roman Manulak and the Police Chief in Lviv have made this request of us. As you know, Father Roman is our trusted point-person in Ukraine.

Since the Eastern Christians are beginning their preparation for Christmas tomorrow, a period of time from now to Christmas is called the St Philip’s Fast. It is a time for prayer, some fasting, and a work of charity. The PROPOSAL for a collection:

****dried soup mixes****

Soups that can be easily mixed with water and heated. That’s it. Nothing more.

Can we do it together?

I will let you know VERY SOON about what days you can drop off the soup mixes at St Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church.

May God’s right hand plant the vine for the Holy Spirit in us to grow it!

PAX,

Paul Zalonski
Subdeacon