I want to thank you for the enormous support you have given to Sonoma’s Sister City of Kaniv, in Ukraine. Your donations of time, money and good will have made an enormous difference, expressed in a letter to the SSCA from the mayor of Kaniv, Ihor Renkas. “We live in a difficult time, but with your help and prayers, we are stronger and more powerful,” he said.
This week we sent another $5,000 U.S. dollars to the Kaniv Friendship Association for humanitarian aid, which brings our total contribution to $138,000 since the beginning of the war. In addition, this year we shipped 18 boxes which included hundreds of pairs of warm socks, t-shirts and underwear, winter clothing and children’s soft toys. All of this was made possible by your generosity.
Recently I read a Kaniv Facebook post and I wanted to share it with you because I think it will give you an idea of the grace and dignity with which they are dealing with the hardship and loss of war.
“The last week of the year brings sad news one after another. Ruthless war takes lives, cripples destinies, breaks hearts. Now the community is mourning again. The war killed another young Kanivite, Vladislav Mazurkevych…Faithful to the military oath, courageously performing military duty in the fight for Ukraine, its freedom and independence, he was killed in the Donetsk region. He leaves a mother, grandmother, aunt and loved ones.”
I feel very proud that our small town has been able to be of comfort to our friends enduring such dark times.
May the new year bring an end to the war in Ukraine, and many blessings to all of us. With much appreciation.
— Kaeti Bailie, Chair, Sonoma/Kaniv Sister City Committee
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