Polish members give service to needy families
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ZELWAGI, Poland — Members of the Church in Warsaw prepared 50 packages of food for impoverished families in northeastern Poland as part of a "Family for a family, man for a man," humanitarian aid project prior to Christmas.
With the help of the Zelwagi Citizens Association, the packages were delivered to the small village of Zelwagi, located 150 miles from the nearest branch of the Church.
Zelwagi was once known as "Mormon Village." The only chapel in mainland Europe was located here until the branch president immigrated to Germany in 1971 and the branch was disorganized. Members have not forgotten the area, nor have local residents forgotten the members. Many residents still recall them as neighbors.
Members prepared packages that included food supplies and a Christmas card offering a message of hope and love. However, distribution of the packages was hampered by the rural terrain. One van driven by the citizens' association got stuck in the snow several times, but eventually arrived at its destinations.
Yet, the difficulties were "certainly worth it to see the smiling faces of the people," said one of the workers who delivered goods to a mother of two boys, ages 13 and 15, who lives eight miles from the road in "extremely humble conditions."
"It is hard to believe that the boys are always prepared, always on time, and always clean while not even having water at home," said their school teacher.
Economic circumstances in Zelwagi changed drastically in recent years as farm owners adopted new techniques and technology, making peasant workers "unnecessary hands," leaving many unemployed.
"The needs are enormous," said Danuta Butkiewicz from the Zelwagi Citizens Association, "but it is great that [Church members] could bring some happiness to some poor people in need."
Members in central Europe are not wealthy, said Marcin Kulinicz of Church public affairs in Poland. "But preparing cards with personal wishes and messages of love was a great spiritual experience for some of them."
