Carlos and sandy Frum's daughter, Daniela Lawler, accompanied them on their trip to Poland to transfer donations to Ukraine. They did this together with German Rotarians.
Since this was her first experience with a Rotary project, Carlos suggested she writes her thoughts about this. She lives in New Zealand. Here is her story.
Although I am not a Rotarian myself, I had the unique opportunity to join my parents Carlos and Sandy Frum, and fellow Chicago-area Rotarians Rick and Helen Rivkin, Elke Friedman, and Lyle Staab as they travelled to Poland on a service project.
Their warmth and inclusiveness were evident as they welcomed me, a non-Rotarian, into their fold for this trip.
After several days spent touring Warsaw and admiring its growth and transformation since it was destroyed in World War II, we headed to Krakow for the main purpose of our trip.
Once there, we joined forces with the Rotary Club Mühlacker-Enzkreis of Germany in delivering €25,000 worth of goods to the Polish-Ukrainian border. This included: canned food and pasta as well as hygiene products, medical supplies, wheelchairs and mattresses.
We were able to help reload the goods from a German truck onto a Polish truck that would be allowed across the border in order to reach the parts of Ukraine where it was most needed.
A particularly poignant moment of the trip was when Father Jan, a Polish Franciscan Monk representing the Franciscan Brothers, expressed his heartfelt gratitude. Father Jan’s role was to receive the goods and ensure their safe delivery to the Ukrainian people amid the ongoing crisis. Despite the chilly and overcast weather, the atmosphere was one of unwavering determination and unity.
This experience served as a powerful reminder of the impact our collective efforts had on those in need.
Although I had heard about Rotary’s service initiatives from my parents for many years, it was only through this firsthand experience that I fully grasped the depth of its impact and significance. The trip left me feeling invigorated and motivated to continue engaging in service within my own community.
What I hadn’t anticipated was how profoundly this journey would enrich my life through the friendships and connections I made along the way.
Beyond the deep sense of fulfilment and purpose that came from helping others, what truly stood out was the camaraderie and friendships formed within a group united by common goals of personal growth and service.
Even though we spent only a weekend together, the connections we made with the German Rotarians over shared objectives and experiences were profound.
This experience reminded me that despite our different backgrounds, our mutual dedication to helping others can forge lasting bonds. It highlighted an added dimension of humanitarian work: the valuable relationships and friendships we build along the way.
For me, this journey was as much about discovering new friendships as it was about delivering aid, showcasing the unexpected power of connections.
