Four Spartanburg women raise $40k, travel to Poland to aid refugees from Ukraine

Four Spartanburg women went to Poland in September to help refugees from Ukraine.

They returned home with a greater understanding of the need for strength and resiliency in difficult times.

The idea for the journey started in April after Kay Buzby heard Teresa Bowers speak at the Spartanburg Ski Club about her trip in March to Krakow, Poland. Bowers, who is from Poland, had planned on going on vacation but felt the need to help when she saw the refugees.

When Bowers presented the opportunity to go in September, Buzby said she couldn't refuse. She shared the idea with her friend Tamara Bavendam, who then shared it with Mary Worstell.

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In September, all four women headed to Poland with the motivation to help. From Sept. 10-27, they volunteered at care centers in Krakow, Poland. The women raised money before leaving and purchased clothes and other supplies for those who left their homes with only the clothing on their backs.

"For my part, it was me saying 'I feel powerless,' " Worstell said. "There's a great need, and sometimes you just have to be the person and act."

The women wrote a blog to document their journey and the people they met.

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Buzby said they raised $40,000, funded mostly by Spartanburg residents. The women said they used every dollar at grocery stores and shopping centers to buy products for the refugees.

They even bought pet supplies for the animals the refugees struggled to bring over to Poland. Every dollar they collected went straight into items for donations.

"We just, the entire time, filled up grocery carts with clothes, women's supplies and children's shoes and sweaters," Buzby said. "We filled up carts and broke the cash registers."

Since Bowers is originally from Poland, she knew where to go to help the refugees.

"Sometimes in life, everything happens accidentally," Bowers said. "I took a tour of Kazimierz, and when we were driving by this building with many signs and flags of Ukraine, someone said it was a Jewish community center. I walked in and said 'do you need help?' "

Bowers and other volunteers helped package food to be transported to food banks for Ukraine refugees. She knew it was something meaningful that she wanted to continue doing, and a philanthropy she wants others to experience.

The moments worth a thousand words

The women gained an appreciation for the refugees in the two weeks they volunteered in Poland. They said the memories they gained are something they will always cherish.

"For me, was when we received a picture of the refugees wearing the clothes we had purchased," Bowers said. "I think I was ready to cry. It was a big moment because we bought bags and bags of clothes. To see these beautiful smiles on the people's and children's faces were priceless."

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Buzby said they have received a lot of photos of the refugees wearing the new clothes the women donated. Bowers said one of her favorites is of a 91-year-old woman, wearing new, fuzzy slippers on her feet.

"There were so many moments," Worstell said. "I just remember us thinking that we could just lighten the load for these people. We really got creative with the staff at the centers, and asked 'what do you need and how can we get that for you?' We talked to ourselves, wanting to do something meaningful and help protect them, but also something to enlighten them."

Worstell said it was important for them to not only take care of the refugees but also of the caregivers at the facilities. An important moment for her was to see how relieved the caregivers were once the four offered endless help and support.

"We would ask what else do they need after we brought the first load of clothes," Worstell said. "When this first happened and the refugees just kept coming in, they were just trying to keep up. Let's not forget the caregivers. The attention goes to the refugees, but people have sacrificed their lives to take care of these refugees."

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Buzby said something she noticed was the strength of the refugees and their attitude to never give up. She said the refugees did not want to be acknowledged for their trauma, because they said they were now in the present and focusing on the future.

"Everybody that we did talk with (said) that they will fight until the end," Buzby said. "They are determined to win this war and defend their country."

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The women were impressed with how the refugees did not want to speak about their pain and trauma. Worstell said the facilities had therapists come to speak to the refugees, but they did not speak about their previous suffering.

"They felt incredible pride being Ukrainian, and that's what they talked about more than anything," Worstell said. "They talked about their pride and being Ukrainian, and how much pride they had for the people and the men that were back in Ukraine, fighting."

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Four Spartanburg women raise $40k for refugees from Ukraine