NEWS: We are working on procuring medical supply for rehabilitation departments of several hospitals in Ukraine, including Novohuivynsk Village Hospital, Zhytomyr region, Zhytomyr Regional Hospital, Lviv Rehabilitation Clinic of Western Region Military Medical Center, and others. Thousands of soldies, civilians and children have been injured by shelling, explosives, folling buildings debris. Many of the injured suffered severe traumatic brain and/or spine injuries, polytraumas, and are amputees of 1-4 parts of the body. The rehabilitation clinics lack heart monitorings sensors, security belts for learning to walk, vestibular training goggles, post amputation compression socks, mobile bed tables, etc. If you are interested and able to donate, please see here. THANK YOU!

On October 30, 2024, SEVEN large packages of zipped fleece lined hoodies, flannel shirts, swetshirts, and boots were sent to Nizhyn children’s home for disabled and orphans. We did not receive any help from any of big retail stores but Kohl’s. Even Walmart did not award us a grant which they give out once a month. We also had a tough time to find a good shipping rate. Finally, we ended up with the shipping company Roxolana, based in New Jersey. The packages are shipped by sea because of the cheaper rate. They are to arrive in Ukraine and to be delivered to the children’s home in 4-6 weeks. We’ll post pictures when the clothes is received in Nizhyn. THANK YOU ALL WHO HELPED!!!

CONGRATULATIONS! Another good deed accomplished! Upon the request of the Director of Nizhyn Children’s Care Home for Disabled and Orphans, Ms. Olena Harmash, we were able to procure two sets of movable ramps for their facility. Apparantly, they had issues moving children in wheel chairs during air raids from the care home building to the bombshelter and to their care home van. The staff measured the stairs length and the van entrance height. We needed to find a movable ramp 3 meters (yards) long for the stairs and 2 meters long for the bus. After a considerable search we were able to find an enterpreneur in the city of Dnipro (Ukraine) who was able to order and manufacture the required ramps in Ukraine. “All are happy and greatful!” Ms. Harmash reported and shared some pictures with us.

ZAPORIZHIA CHILDREN

have received their art supply packages!

Our sincere gratitude goes to everyone who made this project possible, including:

The Skipping Stones magazine for their donation of multiple children’s books, as well as earlier copies of the Skipping Stones magazines. THANK YOU!

Our friends and neighbors: Peg Hambrick, Margaret Sebastianelli, Nina White, Catherine Wanner, Lee Washesky, Michael Naydan, Will Jones, and others.

We have successfully procured and donated office equipment to Nizhyn Territorial Center for Social Services (social services provider). The Center for Social Services (CSS) provides social services to citizens in difficult life circumstances who need assistance at the place of residence and in day care centers. The Territorial CSS has 4 structural divisions, in particular:

1) Social Assistance at Home;

2) Targeted in-kind and cash assistance;

3) Adult Day Care;

4) Day Care for children with disabilities and adults with disabilities (“Vira” (Hope)).

At present, the center provides services to about 2,000 people, including the elderly, children with disabilities, individuals with disabilities, and individuals in difficult life situations who require social assistance and support. In connection with the military aggression of the Russian Federation and the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, these are the categories of citizens who require more attention and special care.

Due to the limited funding of the institution and the lack of ewsources, the Center was unable to meet some of the needs for outfitting and modernizing their premises to create appropriate conditions for the elderly, children with disabilities and disabled individuals, and to provide quality social services.

Thanks to our fund-raising efforts, we were able to raise funds to help Nizhyn CSS. Our first installment of office equipment was delevired to the Center last week. (Please, see the pictures below.) The entire aid package was procured from the Ukrainian office supply company from the city of Rivne. We are now working on the second aid installment.

We have an official THANK YOU letter from Nizhyn CSS, which is now being translated and will be posted shortly. THANK YOU ALL WHO WERE ABLE TO HELP!!!

The staff in the video thanks Sister’s Sister of State College for the invaluable assistance. Our aid package included two laptop computers with Windows OS, two printers/scanners, a projector, and a 55″ flat screen TV.

In the video on the left, the staff is testing the printer. Just check what comes out from the printer:

ДЯКУЮ ( DIA-koo-you!),

aka THANK YOU in English!

For the first time in history SISTER’S SISTER participated in the Central PA Festival of Arts. Our tent was located in front of the Borough building, from Friday through Sunday, July 12-14, 2024. We had some special thank you gifts for donations starting from $5. We had a few authentic T-shirts made in Nizhyn, an adorable soft rabbit toy made in the Nizhyn toy factory, a stainless steel Nizhyn water bottle, a beautiful Nizhyn umbrella, totes, notebooks, books, cards, etc. (please see the pictures). We also had awesome Ukrainian t-shirts, and the unique posters created by children from Zaporizhzhia. And coasters, bracelets, stickers created by the members of the Ukrainian community in State College and their friends.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING US!

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who came to the concert and to those who were not able to come but sent donations. We thank from the bottom of our hearts to those who donated their time and talent creating this event and making the concert unforgetable. Our cordial thanks go:

To the musicians — Seulki Yoo, piano; David Stambler, saxophone; Jonida Lazellari, piano; James Lyon, violin; Melody Quah, piano; Ashley Shank, flute;  Susan Kroeker, flute/piccolo; Andreas Oeste, oboe;  Anthony Poehailos, clarinet; Brandy Davis, clarinet;  Sarah Schouten, horn; Ethan Ruble, horn;  Daryl Durran, bassoon; Benjamin Maclay, bassoon; Guanchen Liu, contrabassoon; Isabella Scotti, percussion; and Dennis Glocke for the masterful rendering of Ukrainian classical music. THANK YOU!

To the singer from from Ukraine — Niara Mamontova for her special performance of the Ukrainian unofficial anthem Oi U Luzi Chervona Kalyna (Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow). ДЯКУЮ!

To the concert organizer — prof. Daryl Durran for his unceasing devotion and tireless work in organizing this concert. Without Prof. Durran, this event would not have been possible. THANK YOU!

To our hosts — Grace Lutheran church of State College, PA for donating the venue and making this a very special event possible. THANK YOU!

To our welcome speakers — Rev. Scott Schul, Mayor Ezra Nanes, Ukrainian researcher Dr. Lyudmyla Kuzmych for their warm remarks and deeply felt statements. THANK YOU!

To our inspiring sponsors — George and Nina Woskob for all their support from little to big things, and in particular for those very special Ukrainian treats so generously given to all the participants.

Artwork created by Ukrainian children and their teacher Nadiya Chepiga from the city of Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine were exhibited at the Multicultural Children’s Festival at the State College Area High School organized by the WPSU on April 6, 2024. The city of Zaporizhzhia is under constant enemy shelling but the children’s creativity lives on. Zhanna Kaminska, sister of Nadiya, is a Ukrainian refugee from Zaporizhzhia, who currently calls State College her home, was instrumental in making the exhibition of children’s art a reality.

Children’s art from the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia was exhibited for the benefit concert attendees on March 23, 2024.

Thank you all who came to to the concert to support Ukraine on Saturday, March 23, 2024. It was a great concert. The violinist was amazing. The exhibition of posters created by children from Zaporizhzhia, a city under constant enemy bombing, were outstanding. The atmosphere and camaraderie were awesome!

This was further evidence of how skillful and talented Ukrainian people are.  All they need is peace to live on their own land, practicing their own culture and traditions. The enemy wants to annihilate all things Ukrainian, and denies the existence of the nation of Ukraine. Ukrainians continue fighting for their land and their independence. But they cannot do it alone. Please call your elected officials in DC and ask them to vote for supporting Ukraine. Most of the allocated funds will create well-paid jobs in the U.S. And the world will regard the U.S. as the leader of protecting democratic values, and resolving the humanitarian  crisis.

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The spring is here, and so is a new benefit concert for Ukraine. Please join us on Saturday 23, 2024 for a benefit concert featuring VASYL POPADIUK, a Ukrainian violinist. Vasyl is known as the “Ukrainian Paganini”. He is a classically trained violinist from Ukraine, who currently lives in Ottawa, Canada. He plays 15 instruments. He is a founder of  the band “PapaDuke”, with whom he travels the world, playing music in world music styles, Latino, gypsy, and jazz. 

The concert will take place on the stage of the Performing Arts Center of the State College Area High School. The entrance to the Arts Center is at the back entrance of the High School.  The suggested price is $10 for an adult, and $5 for a student. Those who would like and are in the position to donate more, can do so before or after the concert. All donations will be used to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including our sister-city of Nizhyn. Donations are accepted by cash, checks (to Sister’s Sister), Zelle or Venmo. 

In this critical time for Ukraine our support is vitally important for the Ukrainian people’s survival. Please bring your family, friends and neighbors to the concert on Saturday, March 23, at 7:00 pm. There are plenty of nice and comfortable seats in this outstanding  auditorium. The seats will be occupied on a “first come, first serve” basis. Sorry,  no food and no drinks are allowed in the Arts Center. Please, use the parking lot by the back entrance (keep right when entering the high school campus,  driving around the school building to the back entrance). 

The Sunflower Gratitude wall is located at 1402 South Atherton Street in State College, PA. It was painted by Ukrainian visitors, local residents of Ukrainian origin and their friends led by Dr. Ludmila Kuzmych. It is dedicated to the 32nd Independence Day of Ukraine.