AUSTINTOWN — Mission of Love, an Austintown-based nonprofit grassroots organization started in 1989, is collecting and sending humanitarian aid to Poland for the thousands of Ukrainian refugees who have fled their war-torn homeland.

Mission of Love already has sent 16,000 pounds of rice, a truckload of new clothes, new fabric for blankets, medical supplies and food. The rice was donated and delivered by Grant Street Services Inc. of Niles.

Another shipment was on its way last week containing vitamins, medical emergency supplies, food and medicine, said Mission founder / director Kathy Price. A variety of comfort quilts that are pouring in from all over the country will be included in a future shipment.

“During (hurricane) Katrina (August 2005 in Louisiana), we would give the people a quilt,” Price said. “People would fall into my arms and cry for joy, and because someone cared, they said they could begin again.”

The quilt program began as a joint effort with eQuilter.com, an online source for quilting fabrics and supplies. People who enjoy making quilts would assemble one for Mission of Love to send to those in need.

“Every thread represents love,” Price said.

PERSONAL NOTE

The quilters sometimes will add their name to the quilt and often include a note to the recipient to let them know they are being thought of.

eQuilter.com owners Luana and Paul Rubin help collect the quilts from people either dropping them off at the eQuilter.com warehouse in Boulder, Colo., or by mailing them to Mission of Love in Austintown. The partnership has been a strong one and has been activated for every tragedy.

For example, the program sent 3,500 quilts for 9/11 survivors, 2,500 quilts after the Japan tsunami, and 1,500 quilts to New York after Hurricane Sandy struck. This month, Luana Rubin made contact with Price, and the quilt collection for Ukrainians is underway.

On a March 9 blog, Luana wrote: “As quilters, our first reflex is always to make quilts for those in need. At this moment the need for food, water and housing is the most urgent need for these escaping families. We have had inquiries about sending quilts to the Ukrainian refugees, and tonight (March 9), I have confirmation that we will work with Mission of Love to ship and distribute donated comfort quilts to those who had to leave home with so little.”

RESPONSE

Price said since the word went out, the quilts have been pouring in.

She said every day the mail carrier brings one or more boxes packed with carefully constructed quilts.

One box Price received from the Rev. Karen Lebacqz from Sacramento, Calif., had a note inside that said: “Thank you for your ministry of sending quilts for Ukrainian refugees. I am enclosing three quilts in hopes they would be among those you forward to refugee settlements.”

Price and volunteers open each box, repackage the quilts for handing out and send them with other donations.

The Mission of Love donations have been sent to the Pokrova Ukrainian Church in Parma. From the church, containers are filled and flown to Poland. Before the containers are loaded, the donations are gone through to ensure they are properly prepared.

“All donations that enter the church need to be sorted and packaged correctly before being sent over (to Poland),” said church volunteer Solomia Bida. “We are very grateful for the communities’ love and support. We will continue to collect items for as long as we are able.”

She said as soon as they fill a container, it is shipped. The specific needs are posted on the Mission of Love website at www.missionoflove.org and at eQuilter.com.

Price said the effort of all volunteers and donors to help the Ukrainian refugees match the Mission quote, “You are not here to save the world, but here to touch the hearts and hands that are within your reach.”