How Philadelphia Rotary Began Relief Efforts for Ukrainian Refugees Pouring Into Poland

By Jay Pennie

Shortly after war broke out in Ukraine, Philadelphia Rotary members Ken Myers and Joan Batory took action.

Hearing about the situation in the early days of the war, Myers was making plans to go to Poland and help volunteer to assist refugees flooding into that country. Later, those plans would change.  

"We have to do something. I don't know what that is or looks like, but we have to mobilize support to provide aid and assistance," said Myers.

She directed Myers to contact Rotary Clubs in Poland. “I knew that the clubs were severely impacted by the enormous number of refugees pouring into Poland. If anyone was getting anything done, it had to be the Rotarians there,” said Batory.  

“This is not going to change in a few days…So, we expecting that we will have to take care of them, maybe months.” Piotr Jankowski, International Aid Coordinator, Poland.

Myers was able to reach Piotr Jankowski, who is the International Aid Coordinator and Rotary District Governor Elect in Poland. Meanwhile, within days, a committee was formed and is comprised of Philadelphia area leaders, including Rotary International District 7450 Governor Roger Taylor, Lt. Governors Julianna Blazey and Jay Pennie, Gundaker Foundation President, Karen Mazzarella and Treasurer Dave Haradon, and Wayne Rotary member, John Kopcha, who is an active member of the Ukrainian-American community in the Philadelphia area.

A series of Zoom calls were set up with the newly formed committee and Jankowski to find out the most up to date information and get an “on the ground” perspective of the massive task of helping the Ukrainian refugees find food, shelter, transportation, medicine. Jankowski mention clearly the need for funding because the Rotarians from the 79 clubs in Poland are bearing the costs for providing what the refugees need.

“This is not going to change in a few days, said Jankowski. “So, we expecting that we will have to take care of them, maybe months.” Upon hearing this, the committee immediately set up the Rotary District 7450 Gundaker Foundation Ukrainian Relief Fund to set up a mechanism to accept donations and transfer to a special Rotary account in Poland. This way, Rotary Poland can respond to the dynamic needs for food, clothing, medical supplies, transportation and accommodation.

In the early days, Jankowski saw something that he will never forget. He saw young boy, holding a sign with his name on it and a paper bag, just walking along the border among thousands of refugees. The boy could not find his family, alone and crying for help. He later recounted that Rotarians were able to eventually find his family. 

Rotary Poland is also gathering food, medical supplies and sending into directly into Ukraine through coordination with Rotary there. The committee had that opportunity to speak with Ukraine's District Governor, Volodymyr Bondarenko.

Hearing first-hand accounts from Bondarenko was chilling but inspiring for the committee. He expressed a lot of gratitude to Rotarians around the world who have been donating supplies, equipment, and money. He also spoke affectionately about his Rotary friends in neighboring Poland, where a special account has been set up specifically for refugee relief.

A fundraising event to support the relief effort is in the works and is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14 in Boothwyn, PA. The program will include several prominent members of the Philadelphia area Ukrainian community.

To make a donation, visit Gundaker.org/Ukraine