Local Resident Launches Relief Efforts To Aid Ukrainian Sister Cities "Family"

They say, “you can choose your friends, but not your family.” However, Boyertown did exactly that when it became a “Sister City” to Bohodukhiv, Ukraine in 1983.

And when your sister is under attack and struggling to defend her freedom against illegal Russian aggression, you do something to help. 

That is exactly what Linda Weinberger is doing, and she hopes you will help too.

Linda, a retired Boyertown Area School District (BASD) counselor, and Pam Ferraro, a retired BASD teacher, spent a month living and teaching in Bohodukhiv in 2004 as part of a cultural exchange. Once back home in Boyertown, they remained in touch with their Ukrainian hosts. Contact diminished over the years, but never ceased, and now, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Linda and Pam became worried about their Ukrainian “family.”

Determined to do what they could to help, Linda collected clothing and other essentials and shipped them to Vita, a teacher in Bohodukhiv who had been involved with the Sister Cities relationship from the beginning. Both were amazed that despite the war, the package arrived at its destination.

Next, Linda worked through the hurdles of wiring money to the Ukrainians without incurring expensive fees. She worried it would “get lost” on the way. Much to everyone’s joy and relief, Vita received the funds, directly deposited in her account so they could be used to help with immediate needs.

In the months that followed, and with the help of Pam and some other Boyertown-area residents, Linda sent several more shipments of essentials to Ukraine, ranging from clothing, cash, toiletries, and items for children, to food for those with dietary restrictions.

Retired Boyertown optometrist Jim Tribbett, a former president of Boyertown’s original Sister Cities group, remarks that “Linda has been amazingly successful at getting these things directly into the hands of those who desperately need them.” He adds, ”She is the prime actor in making this possible. She really jumped on it.”

Jim alone has contributed several thousand dollars, donated by his friends and family. “There are many relief groups working around our country, but this is different. It is very direct and personal,” he explains.

One Small Donation Has a Large Impact

As news has spread about the effort to help support Bohodukhiv, Linda has been thrilled and surprised to receive a steady flow of donations. What began as her personal attempt to help one family in need, has become a community project with significant positive benefits for the population of Bohodukhiv.

Linda recounts the extensive impact of a single contribution: “Pam applied for and received a $250 “Thrivent Action Team” grant. The money was sent to Vita, the Ukrainian teacher, with the request that in addition to using it to help her own family, she pass some on to others in need.

“Vita knew a Ukrainian woman whose apartment was burned to the ground in the fighting. Her son was fighting on the frontlines and wounded. So, Vita gave her some of the money,” explains Linda. “Although she was in so much need herself, the woman with the wounded son used some of the money to buy ingredients for bread, organized a group of Ukrainian women to bake it, and later delivered it to Ukrainian soldiers who were starving and fighting the Russians at the frontline.”

Making the Holidays a Little Brighter for Bohodukhiv’s Children

In addition to gathering and sending care packages of necessities and money, Linda and Pam have launched a new initiative designed to lift Ukrainian children’s spirits at Christmas.

“This was my question to Vita in Bohodukhiv,” Linda explains. “The holidays are upon us and it’s wartime in Ukraine. School children routinely hide in bomb shelters during the school day. Some can only go to school alternate weeks because the shelters can only hold half the students. How can we reach these kids and let them know that our hearts are with them during these terrible, horrible, no-good days?’”

With the assistance of a local newspaper editor in Ukraine, Vita devised a plan to advertise a “contest” inviting children to draw and submit pictures about the holiday and new year. Though they will not know it, every child will win a prize, perhaps some chocolate or a pen or a small trinket like a keychain.

Linda is hoping that Boyertown area residents and businesses will donate these items. Pam enthusiastically shares, “I already have 685 granola bars in my dining room ready to ship!”

There also is still great need for cash donations. Even if the gifts for the children are donated, “the cost for sending one 20 pound box to Ukraine is about $90,” Linda explains.

To help cover those costs, Linda has established “Flowers for Friends,” an online entity that enables Americans to order floral arrangements. Proceeds will help fund the Christmas project and other relief efforts.

Standing With Ukraine

Linda vividly remembers back to 2004 how the people of Bohodukhiv treated her and Pam “like royalty. Despite their limited resources, they fed us huge dinners.”

“The children were so excited we were there. They wanted to touch us, wanted us to write our names in their books,” she shares. “When we went into a classroom to teach, they would pack in as many students as they could. One teacher, Tamara, and her students were turned away because there just wasn’t enough room for them. But then Tamara asked if she and her students could at least stand in the hallway outside the classroom so that maybe they could hear and, in the distance, see ‘a real American.’”

Jim and his wife, who traveled to Bohodukhiv three times, also have warm memories of their visits to Ukraine. “We made friends quickly,” he recalls. “They took to us. Relationships were formed, and it is horrible to see their distress.”

Linda agrees. “They are hiding in bomb shelters like something out of Word War II. We have to try to help. That was my impetus,” she says, adding “I just can’t watch people who fed me, starve.”

To contribute items for Ukrainians in need, to ask questions, or to  assist with the campaign, contact: Lmweinberger@gmail.com

Vita's "Voice" from Bohodukhiv

Oct. 21, 2022

Hi, Linda - Right now as I am writing this letter there is no electricity here. We were warned about it, as many important power stations are damaged in Ukraine and for the last few days there have been some repairing works. Ihor and I thought about buying a generator and went to the store. We had no idea how much it is. But as it turned out it costs about 800 dollars. So we can't afford to buy it so far. We do hope that there will be no big problems with it.

Next week I am seeing one woman who can give me the information about the families with the small kids. There's an orphanage in Bohodukhiv, but as far as I know at the beginning of the war the kids were taken to a safer place. I'll double check.

Thank you for inviting us. We'll try to consider this situation. Firstly to get to the USA we need to get a visa, I believe. We'll try to find out a procedure of getting to the USA.

Love, Vita and family

Oct. 23, 2022

Hello Jim,

It's so nice to hear from you. There are really big problems with electricity and the Internet herenow after russian attacks on the infrastructure (power stations). 

Russians are scared to fight with our Ukrainian army and instead they fight with civilians, shooting schools, hospitals, houses etc. So I can rarely write because of bad Internet connection.

Frankly speaking, Lera and I just thought of visiting our friends in the USA. It has occurred to us lately. Perhaps we could stay in the country for 1 month. But we don't know how to realize our plan so far.

Ihor is a member of Territorial Defense Forces and can't go. On the other hand, all men under 60 are forbidden to leave Ukraine during martial law.

How are you getting on?

Love, Vita and family   

[Video above was created some time ago by Boyertown Area Senior High telecommunications teacher, Mr. William Cherkasky, and his students.]

More News from Boyertown

• A Pictorial Tour Through the History of Boyertown: Main Street Businesses page 22 Main Street--page 22
• TRADITIONS While traditions are considered unchanging, life changes constantly and new traditions must be created; what lasts is the desire to give thanks for life, mutable as it is.