By Rafal Matusiak, President — National Association of Cooperative Savings and Credit Unions

Polish American Credit Union Support Fund | Via Stella Foundation https://www.viastella.pl/

December, 2024

Dear Friends,

As we approach the end of this year and the third year anniversary of the attack of Russia on Ukraine, we reflect not only on the damage done but also the work ahead.

At the Front

OVER ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF WAR!!! Attacks have laid mines in Ukraine. Ukraine is the country today with the highest civilian casualties to mines. Estimates of the portion of Ukraine territory infested with landmines run 30 to 40 percent. This is approximately the size of the state of Florida. These remain a threat into the future to farmers working their fields, refugees returning to their homes and civilians traveling. Refugees tell us that they fear that their children playing outside may be harmed by mines upon returning home.

Our Work

In Poland Via Stella and Polish Credit Unions continue to provide school materials, lunches and psychological counseling for refugee children. We also provide women’s health clinics for refugees. Polish CUs mitigate the effects of refugees’ displacement, for the stability of both the refugees and their communities. In Ukraine we continue to provide ambulances and medical equipment for humanitarian purposes. Many communities lost theirs to Russian attacks. Today communities contact us in search of ambulances because they need a fast way to get civilians, injured by mines or missiles, to emergency trauma care. This month we turned over two ambulances to communities in Zaporizhzhia.

Thank You

Our work is a collaborative effort of US and Polish Credit Unions to provide a pathway to safety for victims of the war. We do this because Credit Unions have a long tradition of offering support and aid to those in need. Credit Unions are the good guys. We are grateful for the support which US Credit Unions have contributed.

As we look at the work ahead, we ask you to continue your attention and support for the work that Via Stella does in 2025. You can find us at https://www.viastella.pl/

National Association of Credit and Savings Unions (NACSCU)

81-743 Sopot, Poland, Wladyslawa IV 22, phone: +48 058 550 96 00, fax: +48 58 550 96 01, email: kskok@skok.pl