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March 8, 2022
Kanitra left for Poland Last Week
Mayor Paul Kanitra of Point Pleasant Beach has seen children come from Ukraine for the past five days, happy for a hot supper on their route to orphanages in Poland.
He has seen families who have crossed the border into Poland to stock up on supplies before returning to Ukraine to fight for their motherland.
He's transported people to a refugee center in the middle of the night, adults and children crammed into a passenger van, sitting on laps to fit everyone in.
Kanitra, who traveled to Poland last Friday to assist families escaping the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where his family is from, has been chronicling his and his closest buddy Greg Johnson's efforts to assist the refugees. Visit His Facebook Page.
Kanitra posted on Facebook on Friday about arriving at the Mydyka border crossing, meeting volunteers, and gaining an idea of what was required. He recorded many of his interactions, commenting, and sharing them on Facebook. He has observed a large number of fighters passing through on their way to Ukraine. It put things in perspective when one of the fighters mentioned infant formula and bulletproof vests in the same breath as a list of requirements."
He and Johnson went to Krocienko, a smaller border crossing, on Saturday.
On Sunday, Kanitra and Johnson volunteered with World Central Kitchen for the majority of the day, preparing food for refugees and transporting supplies to the Mydyka border crossing.
He also asked those who wish to help to donate money, and he suggested groups that he has observed supporting refugees in action.
"Here is the complete scenario for all of you who have so generously asked how you might help. It's mainly impractical to ship stuff here "Kanitra penned an essay. "It's expensive, and they already have a lot of warehouses full of clothes, water, food, and other necessities. They require greater assistance as well as improved logistics. Donations are the only way to achieve this."
"Easily the worst day yet," Kanitra wrote in his Monday post.
They quickly depleted the supply tables they had set up, and they made numerous excursions to stores to buy extra warm socks and gloves, as well as surge protectors.
Kanitra writes, "We went through perhaps a hundred stuffed animals and continued going back to stores for more." "Watching some of the kids light up and hug the stuffed animals was yet another moment of trying to keep from getting all choked up."
Kanitra and Johnson were getting ready to leave after providing hot meals when they were approached at 1 a.m. to help transport a dozen refugees.
According to Mayor Kanitra, the following organizations would be helpful to the people:
The Polish Red Cross, which is providing medical assistance to those who need it.
World Central Kitchen, which is providing hot, high-quality meals at all border crossings and refugee centers in Poland and other border countries.
Caritas Poland, which has committed to getting 2,000 orphans out of Ukraine.
Khalsa Aid International which provides humanitarian aid all over the world. "We are inspired by the Sikh principle of 'Recognise the whole human race as one, ' " the group's Facebook page says.
"We are only here a few more days. These groups will be here for the duration of this worsening crisis," Kanitra wrote.
