3rd Container Shipment - 2006

We are happy to announce that the 3rd container sponsored by APAA was picked up on March 7, 2006, and it is on its way to Poland. It will ship through  New York and Gdynia to Lublin, Poland. It probably will not get there until next month but it is on the way. There were about 800 boxes that fit on the container and we still have additional 200 boxes left.

Thank you to all volunteers, who donated their time and worked hard to make this shipment a possibility. Special thanks to Alex Krinos who was there for the send off and spends so much of his personal time keeping the office open.  Thanks to Tina Ficht who helped me co-ordinate over 20 volunteers during the past week.  Thanks to Basia Gronet for organizing the Tribute to Michal Krolewski, which included the Dunajec, Bialy Orzel, and Behar dance ensembles. The funds raised during the Tribute helped substantially to cover shipping costs of the container. Thank you to Mr. Kennedy, our office landlord, who allowed us to park the container on his property. We are grateful to him for his patience. Thank you to Ganna Kryuchkova who helped with translations and phone calls to Poland.

As we are tight on storage space and volunteers to sort clothes, please contact the office if you can work in the office sometime, or if you know of storage spaces for the boxes.

Also, thanks for all that have donated time, money, and, toys and clothes.  Most items are in good conditions but sometimes our office volunteers find clothes with stains or holes, and sometimes toys and books have been found to have mold. These are not good as they take time to sort and can cause problems when going through customs in Poland.

2nd Container Shipment - 2005

An article from Polish Weekly www.polishweekly.com

APAA - A SECOND CONTAINER SHIPMENT

       On May 11, 2005, the American Polish Assistance Assoc. of Eastpointe will receive an ocean going container for shipments to the orphanages of Poland.  The container will be parked on a lot near the office at 23801 Gratiot.  The previous container, which was loaded with 16 tons of gifts and supplies for children in Poland as well as seniors, reached the country on Dec. 22, 2004, only a few days before the holidays.

       "This second container will arrive in June." stated organizational President Michal Krolewski, "and this will make it easier for directors to send trucks from various locations in Poland to pick up their parcels in Lublin."  He added, "We are hoping to fill the entire container during the two week period after the delivery.  We already have almost 500 parcels ready for the shipment."

       Dolores Cetlinski, the treasurer of the APAA, talked of the economics of the shipment.  "We can send these parcels to one location.  The train transports the container from Detroit to New York and then, by freighter the container is taken to Poland. In Poland another train takes the container from Gdynia to Lublin.  There are no costs for the orphanages.  They do, however, have to get a truck to pick up the gifts.  Most orphanages receive from 50-70 parcels."

       Mrs. Cetlinski noted that to send the packages individually would be impossible.  "We are paying about $4,500 to cover all costs.  For 20-25 tons of goods, this is quite manageable."

       On Saturday, May 14, APAA members will gather to begin the loading of the container.  They are hoping that more volunteers will come to the office on this day when everyone will be needed.  The office will be open from 9 AM to 6 PM.  "We hope," said Krolewski, "that people will also be generous with more gifts for the children.  We need school supplies such a tablets, crayons, pencils, pens, colored markers and even children's books in English.  Of course, we still appreciate the children's clothing (in good condition) as well as bar soap, toothpaste, tooth brushes, shampoo, lotions, stuffed animals and toys."

       Mrs. Cetlinski added, "We don't have to worry about weight so things that are heavy are acceptable.  English books for children, for example, are needed for small libraries at some of the orphanages.  The kids are learning English in school and these books are a great asset.  The weight of the books prevents individual shipment but the container solves the problem."

       The APPA container will be unloaded in Lublin by the Center of Volunteers in that city. In Lublin the first distribution goes to 20 groups based in and around that city. Afterwards, the packages are going to be picked up by representatives from Lomza, Zambrow, Strzyzow, Przemysl, Rzeszow, Stalowa Wola, Skopanie Fabryczne, Barczewo, Krasnik, Ostrowiec Sw., Hrubieszow and Biala Podlaska.  A number of parcels will be stored in houses nearest to the border with Ukraine and will eventually be picked up by the directors of the Children's center in Rowno, Ukraine.

       "We have been very pleased," said Krolewski, "with the support of all of the community.  We are especially thankful to parishes like St. Hyacinth, Help of Christians, St. Isidore and St. Martin De Porres that have always been there for the orphans.  We also have to thank students from the Polish Club at Oakland University and St. Mary's Preparatory who have been constantly helping since last year."

1st Container Shipment - 2004

The American Polish Assistance Association has achieved one of its most important goals for the year 2004.  We have sent a container via the ocean to Poland.  For historical purposes, the number of the container is:  GSTU 678671-5 and the Seal Number is 0971.  The freight line is MTS originating in Berea, Ohio.  The container will be taken to the port of New York and then will be sent to Gdynia, Poland.  From Gdynia, by rail, it will be taken to Lublin, Poland.  There, Mr. Jacek Wnuk, the head of the Lublin Volunteer Association, will help distribute nearly 600 parcels with a combined weight of 32,500 lbs.  We were not able to calculate the total value but it is somewhere in the vicinity of almost $200,000.  This included large amounts of newly bought clothing, school supplies, toys and stuffed animals.

    We have many individuals and organizations to thank.  It would take pages to list everyone.  To be brief, we extend our gratitude to the following groups and their leaders:

• To all of the members of the APAA who collected donations, sorted clothing, packed parcels, weighed them, loaded them onto the container and did any number of one hundred+ jobs that were requested of them.  Our members donated thousands of hours of hard work.

• To Rev. Timothy Whalen who encouraged the students of St. Mary’s Prep to collect 416 sweaters; Rev. George Rutkowski who had the participants of the Our Lady Help of Christians Bingo night to donate clothing and toys; Rev. Roman Pasieczny who allowed the APAA to have one of the most successful bake sales ever at his parish; Rev. Andrew Wesley who lead the Polish American seniors at Transfiguration to conduct numerous collections of gifts; Rev. Francis Skalski whose seniors at St. Hyacinth donated numerous gifts and hand-made items for infants; and Rev. Robert Schuster of St. Barnabas Parish who permitted the APAA to store parcels at the rectory for months and then place our container on the parish parking lot so that it could be loaded for the orphanages in Poland.

• To the students of the Polish Club at Oakland University for their help with packing during the final days of preparation; Mrs. Virginia Skrzyniarz of the “Piast Institute” in Hamtramck for numerous contacts and sponsorship; Sisters Joanette and Fabian of the Mother Angela Angels Day Care in Detroit for support, hand-made dolls and a constant flow of donations; Mr. Leonard Winogrodzki of the VFW in Hamtramck for boxes and donations; Mrs. Pat Malendowski for her encouraging the members of the Hearts AmVets to become a part of our endeavor; Mrs. Mary Anne Zielinski for bringing the Alliance of Poles into our efforts; Mrs. Michelle Jakubiec for leading the members of the “Wieliczka” PRCUA Ensemble in their collection of gifts – esp. candies for the orphanages; and Mr. & Mrs. Cal Kennedy, owners of our location in the Gratiot Office Plaza, for their donations and understanding (including patience) with our overwhelming take over of every empty space near our office.

• To the news media in Polonia – the Polish Weekly, Mr. Jurek Rozalski, Mrs. Anna Jankowska, Mr. Rumin, Mr. Sebastian Szczepanski, and Mr. Ksawery Swiecki; Mrs. Barbara Gronet of the Polish American Congress for being one of the most important promoters of our goals for the future.

    We have a listing of nearly 100 individuals who signed in when they brought gifts to be loaded onto the container.  We will do our best to mention all of them in the coming months.  The contribution of each individual is extremely important and some, who journeyed many miles to come to our office with their gifts, are very special.   We wish that each one of them could witness the happiness that will be a part of Polish orphanages this Christmas Holy Season.  In the New Year we are sure to hear from many of the centers and will reprint their letters for all to read.  May God bless everyone for their trust in the APAA and their kindness and love that showed no boundary.

    We welcome your continued support with gifts and monetary donations in the New Year.  We also ask that you encourage your relatives and friends to support our gift shop, a major source of funds for our projects.  God Bless.

Click here to check response that we received after container arrival in Poland.