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XXXIІI Конвенція СУА 182 In 2023, the interesting story of Branch 56 involvement “with the Zemliachka initiatve began: after a program prepared by our then Cultural Affairs Chair Ksenia Rakowsky about the needs of women soldiers in Ukraine, our members decided that as a woman’s organization we should specifically support the women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). We learned that there were no uniforms made specifically for women soldiers. During a Branch 56 Board meeting, the suggestion was made to investigate who might be doing this kind of work in Ukraine. Bohdana Puzyk, at the time still Branch 56 President, said she would do the research. She found three possible groups, reached out to all, and vetted all three. Zemliachka was one of the three organizations. Zemliachka had been featured on an American news channel, she learned and found their website online, and was impressed. Two young Ukrainians, Ksenia Draganyuk and Andriy Kolesnyk, established a charitable project to support women defenders at the front. Bohdana Puzyk invited First Vice President Ksenia Rakowsky and Second Vice President Lida Bilous to join her on a Zoom call during which the Ukrainian couple took the Branch 56 members on a tour of their small workshop and packing place. Zemliachka rents a space in a warehouse in Kharkiv where women sew the uniforms. They are paid by donations received from businesses, charitable foundations, non-profit organizations, and individuals. They are a growing charitable organization. Branch 56 decided to order their uniforms. Originally, we sent only $5.000 to see how the funds would be managed. All went well. Into each uniform box, for which our Branch paid, a card was included informing the recipient that UNWLA Branch 56 provided them with the uniform, along with an expression of hope for the war ending with Ukraine’s victory. We then received photos of soldiers in their uniforms. We ordered more uniforms (68). We inquired if they could make bulletproof vests Members of Branch 56 (Front row, from left): Bohdana Puzyk, Katya Steciuk-Shevchuk, Pat Zalisko, Lidia Bilous, Inia Tunstall, Ksenia Rakowsky, Halya Lisnyczyj, Maria, Lala Kolybabiuk, Roxolana Saciuk (Middle row, from left): Ann-Marie Susla, Halya Klymuk, Yara Litosch, Olha Cehelska, Lioubov Yaryna, Julia Stromeckyj, Ulana Stadnyk, Tamara Renzi, Neonilla Lechman, Lieda Boyko, Myroslawa Futey, Nadia Luchanko, Vira Bodnaruk, Christyna Sheldon, Roxolana Yarymovych, Olena Boyko, Lesia Popel, Martha Kochanowsky (Top row, from left): Maria Bloom, Marina Scarijenskaia, Anna Marianni, Viktoria Loukasevych, Lida Kramarchuk, Anna Gerasymovych, Natalia Bobak, Olya Hron, Orysia Zinycz, Christia Kryzaniwsky, Aurelia Hrab, Areta Baranowsky, Ulana Rondiak, Christie Demidovich, Ivanka Olesnycky, Ksenia Kuzmycz, Daria Tomashosky
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