In the article entitled “To the Children of Bosnia” (published in the December issue of Głos), we wrote about an event held at the Bolesławiec Cultural Centre, with the proceeds intended to help children from Bosnia who had arrived in Przesieka near Jelenia Góra.
Let us recall that 9 million zlotys in cash was collected, along with clothing, footwear, toys and other items worth approximately 65 million zlotys.
After reading the article mentioned above, several readers informed us that, in addition to the campaign initiated by BOK, many residents of Bolesławiec had spontaneously and quietly helped—and continued to help—people from Bosnia.
As we were informed, on the day the children arrived in Poland, Władysław Czopko went to the accommodation sites, offering his assistance, among other things, as an interpreter. He proved to be very much needed (Stanisław Korczak and Antoni Szymonik also interpreted).
The first contact with the arrivals was shocking: they had not only no warm clothing or footwear, but not even toothbrushes or hygiene products. After providing “first aid” with the supplies he had brought, Mr Władysław—like a supply officer—drove there every few days, delivering pots, cookers, bowls, dishes, food and other items. When giving the Bosnian guests cigarettes, coffee, biscuits or wine, he would say, “You must have things here as we once had them at your place.” Knowing the language, he interpreted, comforted and encouraged them, and helped arrange many matters with local people and authorities. Among other things, he helped speed up the organization of education for children and young people in Przesieka, “so that they would have it just as they did at home.” Regarding food, he persuaded the cooks at the holiday centres accommodating the Bosnians that Muslims did not eat pork, but mainly mutton—perhaps beef as well—and preferred it with bread rather than potatoes. He also demonstrated how shashlik is really made. That was Czopko through and through. “They were happy when I came,” Mr Władysław recalls, “because they could talk their troubles out. And there was—and still is—always something to take care of.”
Czopko did not travel alone. From almost the very beginning, Ewa Marcinów, whose parents came from Bosnia, organized aid. “The first meeting between Poles and Bosnians took place in Zebrzydowa,” Mrs Ewa recounts. “The Poles were waiting with hot soup, which the starving guests had apparently already grown unaccustomed to, because they did not know how to eat it. When I handed out coffee and sweets, the children kissed my hands. And they cried. They were frozen and sad.”
What Mrs Ewa had taken to the first meeting quickly ended up in the hands of the arrivals. She therefore returned to Bolesławiec and, now knowing their needs better, was able to prepare more gifts. She also visited acquaintances, shops and wholesalers, collecting the necessary clothing, footwear and food in sacks. She encouraged others to make the trips as well.
From what Mrs Ewa Marcinów told us and what we learned from others, Stanisław Kuduk from Kruszyn, Jerzy Jagielski from Bolesławiec and E. Rzeźwicki from a wholesaler in Lwówek transported food to Przesieka by car; the latter delivered goods worth more than 21 million zlotys! Jan Kędzierski drove there with sausage, Olga Padewska delivered an automatic washing machine, Maria Rajfur large quantities of footwear, Antoni Dolecki fruit and vegetables, and Lidia Chalewicz clothing and other items, and so on.
People are reluctant to say what their financial contribution to helping the people of Bosnia was. From rough calculations, we know that the sums were substantial. For example, how much might 80 good meals cost—the meals Czopko served to guests from Przesieka who arrived in Bolesławiec by two coaches for the event on 22 November? Here are a few other calculations of the value of assistance provided by individuals: Stefania Bonk, Franciszek Dul and Janina Sobas—gifts worth approximately 18 million; Eliza Kondratowicz—approximately 1.5 million zlotys; Genowefa Wolna—approximately 4 million; Krystyna Jelińska and Jolanta Soja—approximately 1.8 million zlotys; Teresa Pandlowska—approximately 5.8 million zlotys.
This is certainly not a complete list of examples of the kindness shown by the people of Bolesławiec. May those about whom we were unable to obtain information forgive us. We thank everyone. Most importantly, in difficult situations, the people of Bolesławiec can be counted on.
FU