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5-07-2025 4:39am
Local Citizen Shares Boyertown's Ukrainian "Sister City" Update
Lesley Misko
Editor
[Editor's note for new subscribers to The Expression: Since the Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a group of local citizens has organized to collect and ship food, money, clothing, and other items to Boyertown's "sister city," the people of Bohodukhiv, Ukraine, to help raise their spirits as they struggle for survival. Linda Weinberger, one of the group organizers has provided periodic updates that The Expression has published. For those who wish to see earlier articles, consult the links at the end.]
by Linda Weinberger
Dear Friends. . .it's been way too long since I've sent an update about the small town of Bohodukhiv, UKR. With so much front-and-center news about Ukraine, I wanted to give you a brief update.
During 2024 we sent nearly 50 food boxes to families in need.
Additionally we sent over 100 packages of North American Rescue HyFin Vent Chest Seal to be used in a hospital in Poltova, UKR for wounded soldiers. Each one is a double pack, so that’s 200 bandages for chest wounds.
The kitchen ladies continue to make food for soldiers who are defending the area. This past year we sent about $600 to help their “kitty” to buy food. The summer harvest was scarce, so the funds were greatly appreciated and well used.
Before Christmas I happened upon some sweet aprons at IKEA so I purchased them, popped some treats in the pockets, and sent them off with a box of cookies and some hot chocolate mix with a note asking the ladies to please take time for themselves! They were delighted.
But now the not so good news. Almost on the same day as the “meeting” in the Oval Office of our president and President Zelenskyy in which there was some talk of Putin wanting peace, here is what happened in nearby Kharkiv. . . This was the medical center where Vita had gone for blood work. There was also a children’s dental clinic bombed and a hospital wing with patients.
This was about March 2. Kharkiv is bombed nearly daily.
About March 8, the meat packing plant in Bohodukhiv was bombed with one person killed and others injured. The bombing was Shahed drones. Vita said they went right over their house and she feared they would drop bombs on them.
And March 15, four Shahed drones destroyed a school just 300 meters from Vita’s house. She and her husband Ihor were terrified and were sure the drones would bomb their house. I just can barely imagine the PTSD that these people and children will live with for years.
As much as I would like to end on an upbeat note, I find that a challenge. The bombed out school is one which Pam Ferraro and I were greeted with smiles and warmth as well as the traditional “bread and salt” during our Sister Cities trip in 2004. We walked the halls as students called out, “HI!” and just wanted to hear us answer in our American accents. We met with students, talked of our American lives, shared laughs and jokes, and enjoyed the concerts they put on for us.
Despite the desperateness of the situation as the war goes on and on and on, the residents of Bohodukhiv know that there’s a group of Americans here who care about them and support them. We’ve put smiles on faces, food in tummies, warm clothes on backs, bandages on wounds, sustenance for soldiers, cash for medical procedures and families with disabled children, and hope in their hearts with written messages. Vita’s messages continually end with THANK YOU !!!!!! (Kiss emojis!!!)
I’ve asked Vita what we can do to help. At this point she is honestly simply trying to keep herself together. I think the best thing we can do is to hold all the families of Bohodukhiv in whatever spiritual way fits for you. . .prayer, lighting candles, meditation, singing, walking, and perhaps reaching out to someone in need here.
Thank you, Starfish Friends. . .”It mattered to that one”. . .
Linda
Links to previous Expression articles on this topic; links are in chronological order.
https://boyertownareaexpression.town.news/g/boyertown-pa/n/240951/xxxxxxxxxxx
https://boyertownareaexpression.town.news/g/boyertown-pa/n/132923/update-fom-our-sister-city-ukraine
https://boyertownareaexpression.town.news/g/boyertown-pa/n/131200/ukraine-headline-here
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