Polish Club lends a helping hand to Ukraine

As a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine, Elmhurst University’s Polish Club knew they wanted to help. 

Polish Club President Natalia Szmitko learned that Illinois State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi was doing a clothing donation drive, so she reached out to Rep. Mazzochi to see what the club could do to help. 

Due to soldiers and innocent bystanders getting wounded, Rep. Mazzochi informed Szmitko that medical supplies were low and that they didn’t have enough to treat people. The Polish Club donated medical items such as Advil, peroxide, gauze, Neosporin, and cough syrups for children. 

For many of the Polish Club members, this has impacted them personally and wanted to help in any way that they could. 

“A lot of the members in the Polish Club have family members in Poland,” said Szmitko. “Some of the members are on the border of Ukraine and see the individuals crossing and hear the bombs going off. I have some family members on the border and have called saying they have taken in mothers and their children that crossed the border. For me to hear this from my family broke my heart and I knew we needed to help.” 

Szmitko and the rest of the club were pleased with the turnout of the donation drive and plan to hold another drive to donate toys to children in Ukraine. 

“The outcome of the donation drive was amazing and brought tears to my eyes,” said Szmitko. “The amount of support our school gave was breathtaking and I wish I could thank every individual that donated.”