My dear fellow Realtors,

Never in my life would I have thought that I would be addressing all of you and pleading for your help. As you know, the current tragic Russian invasion of Ukraine not only took many lives already but also displaced millions of people.

It also touched me on a personal level. Being born and raised in Poland, I am deeply proud of my native country helping out the Ukrainian refugees in any way the Polish people can. And when I say Polish people, I actually also mean my almost 80 year old mom, my mom’s neighbors, church, and school.

At this moment, over two million refugees have left Ukraine seeking peace and survival . In my city of Krakow, there are thousands of refugees everywhere; train stations, churches, sports stadiums, schools. As I’m writing this, my own old elementary school that I attended is hosting displaced kids and their mothers. My old church, where my mom volunteers, is collecting money and other goods to help out. Whoever can, opens up their home doors to the Ukrainian mothers, children, elderly seeking shelter. They have nothing.

I have been in touch with my family and friends in Poland on a daily basis and have a true image of the current situation there. These innocent displaced people need things that often are taken for granted; blankets, sleeping bags, towels, diapers, hygiene items…. After speaking with my mom and hearing first hand how much help and effort is needed to bring some temporary normalcy to the victims of this war, I decided to create a “Ukrainian Refugee Relief” account in our local bank.

If you would like to help and make a contribution, please use my Venmo account: “ Help4Ukraine”  or stop by any local Lee Bank branch and ask for the Ukrainian Refugee Relief acct.

All the donations will then be transferred to the Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Krakow, Poland (Polish: Parafia Matki Boskiej Fatimskiej). It will then be directly used for purchasing necessary items, food, water for the refugees.

100% of donations will be used for the refugees;, there are no administrative fees.

The donations will also be recognized as coming from friends in the Berkshires, Massachusetts.

Thank you in advance for your contribution and help.

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions.

Joanna Szwyd, 413-446-6844
William Pitt Sotheby’s Intl. Realty

Please note: The Board Office has a policy where we routinely share charitable fundraising items of our members.  Due to the large number of requests asking for financial support, we cannot directly sponsor individual fundraisers, but do welcome the opportunity to share information in the Friday Recap and post material or links on our website to help bring exposure to the cause and an easy ability for members to contribute personally. While this case is somewhat unusual in that it doesn’t directly help a non-profit, an exception was made by the leadership team given that many of us have wondered how we can help the thousands of Ukrainians that are without shelter, food and any worldly goods while they seek refuge in surrounding countries.  This message is from a Berkshire REALTOR, Joanna Szwyd who was born in Poland and is in direct communication with her mother living in Krakow as they desperately try to house, feed and clothe the masses.