Charity
General InformationMums and Tots of Warsaw have been helping children from the Pacanów Childrens Home since 2004. We started to help another orphanage in Siennica in 2009. We also help poor people in those villages as well because donations which are of no immediate use to the orphanages are passed on further to needy families with a large number of children. Nuns coordinate this and make sure that nothing is wasted and that all is given to those in greatest need. Both places are real homes for the children, where they get good food, a warm home and lots of love. The Sisters work extremely hard to raise decent people. They deserve our support and help. Please note that they do not have any organizations as sponsors and do not receive any help from the government as they are private orphanages. Everything we give is accepted with sincere thanks. Please find the details of the Orphanage below.
1 Pacanów Childrens Home
3,5 hours drive from Warsaw, 70 km south of Kielce
Address: 28-133 Pacanów ul. Radziwiłłówka 4
tel 041 376-54-50
Director: sister Dobromila
Deputy: sister Symeona
e-mail address: domdzieckapacanow@op.pl
We travel there 4 times a year and occasionally post things.
Brief History
This children’s home dates from 1936 when King Maciej Radziwiłł offered the building to the Sisters of the Holy Spirit in Pacanów in order to undertake charity activities. After World War II, the sisters opened an orphanage for the war orphans. Later it became a place to look after retarded children. In 1991 it became home for young and older girls. In 1995 they were given their Patron Saint Gwydon, so this place is called the House of Father Gwydon. They have about 32 children, both boys and girls of various ages.
2 Siennica Orphanage
1 hour drive from Warsaw, a van comes to collect things
Address: 05-332 Siennica Szkolna 2
tel 025 757 22 17
Director: sister Edyta
e-mail address: kapucynki-portal@wp.pl
This children’s home is run by Capuchin sisters. They have girls only, about 30.
Charity Projects
Our biggest charity projects have been:
1. “Letter to Santa” – December/January. It started with 30 children in 2004 and now we have 80-90 (orphanage and the poorest families in the village) who write letters to Santa telling about their lives and asking for their dream presents. Every December we ask mums, friends, colleagues, neighbours to become a special Santa for a special child. All Santas are given the child’ letter, all available information and possibly a photo. Usually presents are delivered in January, so there is always a good opportunity to buy presents in the sales. Minimum PLN 150- maximum PLN 300 per child. Detailed information to follow in the middle of November via postmaster and December Newsletter.
Santa 2008 report
Santa 2008 Anne’s letter
2. Christmas Charity Bazaar – end of November. Lots of mums are involved in organising, baking, sponsoring presents, selling raffle tickets, other activities as needed. Anyone is welcome to participate in organising or joining us on such a wonderful festive day. The proceeds are given to Pacanów to support children leaving the orphanage at the age of 18. This is again coordinated by nuns and they provide reports regarding the expenses. Amounts raised
2005 PLN 2350
2006 PLN 3040
2007 PLN 3700
2008 PLN 3400
2009 Christmas Baazar, the 27th November 2009, our target PLN 3000+ other projects in 2009
1. March/April
1%
By allocating 1% of your taxes to a particular foundation you are sponsoring a two weeks summer seaside holiday for an orphanage child. Annually 200 children from different orphanages enjoy such a holiday. In 2009 14 mums and friends participated and 16 Pacanów kids went to Gdynia in July.
1% tax
2. Spring/June
Raising funds to buy summer holiday things and cash for expenses during holiday
2009 PLN 2000
3. Spring/Summer
Start New Life
At 15 years old, children start collecting household things, so that when they have to leave at the age of 18 they have some basic things for their own home. However, during these 3 years they are still unable to get everything they need. So in March we raised money PLN 1050 from the British School parents and collected lots of used things. We made 6 huge packages containing practically everything someone might need, about 20 items per child. Money was used to buy mainly electrical appliances (kettles, irons) and kitchen things (pots, pans, etc.).
2010 It will be done in May/June when lots of needed donations (mainly household things) come from people leaving Warsaw.
4. March/April
Easter Treats
People are asked to buy some sweets and something small for each child PLN 10-15
Easter 2009 Thank you
5. May/June
Children’s Day
Children’s day 2009 Thank you
6. June
Summer Bazaar
This is a chance for mums or anyone else to sell unwanted things. A fee of PLN 20 is charged for a place but all income from the sales is yours. That fee with proceeds from the sale of homemade cakes is for charity.
2009 PLN 400 raised, put of which PLN 300 used to buy school things for Pacanów
PLN 400 raised in August from selling some donations, it was spent to buy new dvds/videos/books.
7. August/September
Get ready for School
Mums are asked to buy school things PLN 15-PLN 20 or give that amount of money for this purpose.
School 2009 Thank you
8. October 2009
Learn English
A one off sponsorship was given to one of the eldest boys to take additional English language lessons. A few mums and friends became sponsors at a very short notice to pay PLN 1700 for the first year of the course. We will need to renew this next year for him to complete the full 2 years course. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor for children to learn English, please contact Alia Radford, the Charity Coordinator.
9. November/December 2009
Letter to Santa
To read about the latest project go here Letter to Santa 2009
DONATIONS
Second-hand stuff
Anyone can give absolutely anything no longer wanted or needed as long as things are in good condition. Things are sorted (baby things, children things, toys, adult things, household items, electrical appliances, other) and then delivered to Pacanów (4 trips a year) or a van from Siennica comes to collect things including furniture and other larger items about once a month.
Need for new things/money
1. There is need to ask for some things we cannot get second-hand - school and art things - cosmetics - sweets - donated shoes are very rarely in good condition - household electrical appliances (irons, kettles) - if anyone can give a few promotional things from companies. In the past we had Oriflame cosmetics and jewellery, Glitter, and other - any other new things that you do not know what to do with.
2. In 2010 the Pacanów orphanage needs money to buy a minibus. We will appreciate if anyone can help to raise any amounts of money.
More details will be given by the Charity Coordinator next year.
PLEASE AVOID GIVING broken toys, things with holes, clothes with unwashable stains, items/electrical appliances requiring repair, worn out shoes or any things that are really beyond their useful life.
Charity Coordinators
2004-2007 Aga Stroina Rasche, initiator of the Letter to Santa. Currently lives in Prague with her husband Stefan and 3 children
2008 – present Alia Radford, planning to be in Warsaw until 2011 with her husband Richard and 3 children alia.radford@neostrada.pl
Although not formally a coordinator, Katharina Laungaard has been helping me a lot to raise funds from her family and friends with PLN 2000 in 2009.
THANK YOU TO ALL
Author: Alia Radford
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