Sending Master’s Love to the Good-Hearted Polish People

In May 2010, Poland was besieged by unrelenting torrential rains that set off the country’s most severe floods in over a decade as its two largest rivers, the Vistula and Oder, burst their banks. At least 18 people perished with tens of thousands being displaced. The Polish government and nongovernmental organizations worked frantically to assist the afflicted.

With Master’s deep condolences and prayers, as well as Her US$10,000 contribution, our Association members from Poland and France quickly contacted officials for information on the areas that had been hardest hit.

On May 29, the team divided into two groups. One went to Masovian and Lódz Provinces in central Poland while another drove to Silesian Province in the south where some 350 households had been afflicted. Even though the roads were in such poor condition that one of the relief team’s cars broke down, they continued on to the heavily-hit town of Wilamowice and Bestwina village in Bielsko County, where they found that homes, farms and crops everywhere were inundated. There, they helped 40 families in need, providing them with nutritious, plant-based food as well as cleaning, medical, and hygienic supplies, along with informative SOS leaflets on the vegan solution to our current planetary instability. The recipients were touched and expressed their gratitude for Master’s loving care. Mazovian’s Vice Governor, Mr. Andrzej Rybus-Toloczko, personally phoned the relief team to express his appreciation to them and to Supreme Master Ching Hai.

On June 19, the relief team visited the Wilków area in Lublin Province which had been hit twice by floods. With help from the Association for Eco-development in Zakrzów village, they handed out urgent supplies, vegan dog and cat food, and visited 35 affected households in the area.

In August, Bogatynia City in the southwest part of Poland was flooded due to the overflowing Miedzianka River. Numerous houses, roads and bridges were damaged and nearly 2,000 people were displaced. Master immediately contributed another US$10,000 and on September 4, our local Association members formed a relief team which reached out to a total of 190 people who had lost their homes. For 3 days they offered food, basic necessities, and heaters to those in need. Medical care was also provided to the flood victims and funds were left to buy shelter and beds for the affected animals. The people were deeply touched by Master’s genuine concern as if they were Her family, and asked the team to pass on their thanks to Master. In difficult times, the good-hearted Polish people took care of their elderly as well as the stray animals. Extending this kindness, the city authorities arranged accommodation free of charge to the relief team.

Our thankfulness, officials and rescue personnel, for your swift assistance. May Heaven bless Poland with a smooth recuperation as such weather extremities subside through humanity’s transition to kinder, eco-conscious ways.

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her International Association for Flood Relief Work in Poland

Description	Amount (PLN)	Receipt
Food, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, clothes, shoes, school supplies, bedding, blankets, furniture, packing materials, medicines, mosquito repellent, etc.	57,200	A




Fund to help affected animals, vegan dog and cat food and other miscellaneous expenses	5,305	B
	5,305	B
TOTAL	62,505 (US$20,471)

Throughout the relief operation, team members paid for their own food, transportation and accommodation expenses.