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In these economically and politically difficult times in Ukraine, St. Nicolas the Wonder worker at Askoldova Mohyla in Kyiv, is helping the city's disadvantaged by distributing much needed food and clothing. A Food & Clothing Bank was launched last October for individuals & families mainly living in the Pechersk district. Impacted by the economic decline and the rise of food prices, access to healthy foods and proper clothing is very difficult for the program’s recipients. St. Nicolas the Wonderworker is doing all it can to address these growing social issues and needs to help the community and to continue its mission in Kyiv. Among its neediest are the elderly, the homeless, single parents and large, low-income families with up to 10 children. Donations are stored in the church's 19th warehouse, where they quickly began to degrade and spoil due to extensive moisture in the old building. The only way St. Nicholas was able to organize the items was to store them in cardboard boxes and plastic shopping bags. Many of the clothes however, had to be thrown out before the New Year because they rotted from the wetness, in less than a month since being donated. After some research on how to keep the items dry, since bulldozing the old building and rebuilding a new one is out of the question , I realized that the church could use large plastic bins to store the food and clothing donations. The containers are a rarity to find in Kyiv and, if lo-and- behold you can find a few, they are extremely expensive. Sterilite boxes are a great way to keep all the items dry. These bins are amazingly sturdy, durable, and will withstand wear and tear for many years to come. What is so important about these boxes are the latches, which keep them airtight, so that moisture does not seep in and ruin the contents. The UNWLA was quick to respond to my call for action, when I sent out a request for help to preserve the food and clothing, last December. Their generosity in purchasing 28 large, 116 quart storage bins, has made an immediate difference in the lives of needy Kyivans. One recipient of the Food & Clothing Bank had commented to me, “If it wasn V for this program, I would not be able to make it through the month, with my family. ” And this program couldn't run without dry foods and clothing to distribute to persons andfamilies in Pechersk. The church received two bulk shipments this past March, and the bins were immediately organized with food and clothing over the following couple of weeks. Soyuz Ukrainok was able to purchase the containers in January and they sent them through MEEST by sea, arriving to Kyiv and through customs within 8 weeks. Rev. Ihor Onyshkevych, St. Nicholas’s pastor, is truly amazed at the swiftness in response to resolving the problem and is deeply appreciative for the support from Soyuz Ukrainok. The containers hold men's, women's, and children’s shoes and clothing (catego rized in small/medium/large sizes), linen, toys, books, over-the-counter medicines, hygiene products, and dry foods. Now there is no more clutter; wet boxes are not tipping over anymore, and we know what are in all those plastic bags. Not only are we able to keep the donated items dry for distribu tion, but we were able to re-organize the donations area with the containers, which maximized the space for even more storage room for more donations! Before every Sunday Liturgy, one of the priests pulls out a Soyuz Ukrainok container and sets it next to the entrance of the church so that parishioners are able to donate food items for the program. This new concept of physically bringing food to church has become a success! Within a matter of a few Sundays, the bin began to overflow! Goods like flour, oil, rice, buckwheat, tea are common donations, since these are basic items used in daily cooking. Some are generous in donat ing cookies and candy for the children who are recipients. Even though it may seem logical to donate food or clothing for our mission, the bins are an integral part of the Food & Clothing Bank. The church’s program could not have continued without UNWLA's direct donation Since writing to Soyuz Ukrainok Ameryky back in December, I see that this was truly a Christmas gift from St. Nicholas, still taking care of the hungry and clothing those in need, as his mission was so many centuries ago. Matthew 35-36, 40 also rings in my ears in humble thanks to UNWLA: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink...I needed clothes and you clothed me... ” “The King will reply, 7 tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. ” I believe that Askoldova Mohyla, in Kyiv. Below is a thank-you letter we received for this donation. 86 XXIX Конвенція СУА www.unwla.org
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