Since March 2022, the Tzu Chi Foundation in the Polish cities of Lublin, Poznan, and Warsaw has distributed supplies and gift cards to Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
In Warsaw, Tzu Chi volunteers held ten distributions on May 20, 21, and 22, and distributed gift cards and blankets to 840 families. They benefitted more than 2,200 people in total. These gift cards represent the hope of life and the means to settle down.
A Caring Organization
The place of distribution was the Teatr Oratorium (oratory theatre) in the city of Warsaw, which belongs to the church (Najświętszego Serca Jezusowego), a Roman Catholic basilica built from 1907 to 1923 and consecrated in 1923. Pope Pius X elevated it to the basilica. In 1931, it was handed over to Oratorium Im. Sw. Jana Bosko (Salesian). In 1991, Pope John Paul II visited the church; it is now presided over by priest Sławomir Szczodrowski.
Father Slawomir is very happy that the Tzu Chi Foundation came to Poland to help the Ukrainian people. He said the church has also helped many Ukrainians after the Russian invasion, and that the economic pressure that followed was increasing; Tzu Chi’s aid just eased the heavy burden in time, so both were working together to help these suffering people to get through it.
On the eve of the distribution on May 19, Ukrainian volunteers thanked Tzu Chi for their love and care for them and their compatriots. They specially provided their lounge as the distribution venue on May 20, and decorated it carefully until very late.
Such a comfortable space brings more tenderness and peace of mind to the waiting people. Whenever the volunteers read the letter of condolences from Master Cheng Yen, the founder of Tzu Chi, the care recipients listen mindfully, and the words of comfort bring them to tears.
The explanation of the volunteers made them understand that the funds for the gift cards in their hands were raised by Tzu Chi volunteers little by little from good-hearted people all over the world, especially in Taiwan. Therefore, Tzu Chi is not a rich organization, but a caring one.
We Are Family
Gift cards are contained in envelopes. When giving the envelopes, volunteers say "hodovi" (Ukrainian: Ready!) and "Jagumo" (Ukrainian: Thank you) – this is not care recipients thanking volunteers, but volunteers thanking care recipients for giving them the chance to serve them. The care recipients responded enthusiastically and applauded!
After they received the envelopes, the gratitude of the recipients was beyond words. Even if the volunteers could not understand the Ukrainian language, they could feel the happiness and gratitude in their tears.
A Polish volunteer, Chris, has been serving in the church for seven years. He assists with audiovisual control at the distribution site. He told Tzu Chi volunteers: "I feel a lot of love, especially after such a cataclysm. You have touched me from the bottom of my heart; it is an indescribable feeling, and I am honored to be one of you. The people of Ukraine are our friends, our family. I can't believe such a catastrophe could happen in this century. I can't believe such a war can happen! The deaths of children and so many tragic things make us so sad for Ukrainians and we want to do everything we can to help them.”
For their part, the Ukrainian volunteers said gratefully: "We are very grateful for Tzu Chi's help to us. We will never forget Tzu Chi's kindness -- the Taiwanese and the Poles!"
Tzu Chi is a group of love, from more than 8,700 kilometers away in Taiwan and around the world. Tzu Chi volunteers are not strangers, but family.
Article: by Nadya Chou, Tzu Chi volunteer from Turkiye
