2013
CHARITY ORGANIZATION SERBS FOR SERBS
Monthly Report for February www.serbsforserbs.org
Monthly Report No. 2 February, 2013 Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS Website: www.serbsforserbs.org E-Mail: Office@serbsforserbs.org
Monthly Report for Febru February
www.serbsforserbs.org 2013
Dear friends and donors,
the population and generally bad economic condition of the households in Serbia, Republic of Srpska and other countries in the Balkan.
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs registered in the state of Illinois in United States in Jun 2010 by the group of the Serbian youth. Charity organization Serbs for Serbs is a 501(c)(3) notfor-profit profit charitable organization. Donation is tax-deductible deductible to the extent followed by the law. On 30th September, 2011 we finally nally got the letter from department of the treasury (IRS) with tax exempt 501(c)3 approval. All donations to our organization donated from June 16, 2010 are tax deductible under section 170 of the Code. We are also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers of gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code.
About Us The mission of Charity organization Serbs for Serbs is to affect on consciousness of Americans, Serbs and their friends through planned projects, social and humanitarian activities in order to develop and foster better society for future generations and provide aid for underprivileged families in need. Although there are many humanitarian organizations and associations, help often doesn't reach the most jeopardized. Due too unnecessary administration, missing information and slow decision making, the delivery of aid arrives too late to the final consumers, or not at all. It is a sad and embarrassing, but true fact that more than 18.000 children daily die around the world be because of starvation and malnutrition. ion. There, among us, the blind and deaf. We are witnesses of the bad demographic situation of our nation, decreasing natality, increasing number of singles, abortions, accelerated aging of
An average couple has "fallen" on one child. Analysts warn that Serbs will become a minority in its own country in the following century if the nation, individuals and government don't wake up from the nescient in which they've fallen! On the other hand, nobody is talking about the families with many children which grieve by living in bitter poverty. Occupied by their everyday struggle for survival, they ey are being humbly in their desire for implementing rights which belong to them. Their life stories, fears and problems are identical, but almost invisible and unheard in order to gain the attention of the public, media and even state. That's why the idea of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs arose. The organization rganization was formed by a group of young and trustful people, who are united by the common vision of helping families blessed by many children and who are aware of the fact that even a small help means eans a lot for those who don't live in a material excess. We are united by the humane idea to help the poorest part of the Serbian nation. Charity organization Serbs for Serbs try to revive the spiritless energy of the Serbian Diaspora which would be able to reinforce people of Serbian heritage as well as all good people throughout the world with minimal, but bu constant monthly donations. We hope and believe that there is also a grain of doing good and that you will join us in the endless e struggle against poverty. God bless and save all Serbian families with many children and our honored donors who participate in the noble effort to return smile on children faces.
CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE!
www.serbsforserbs.org
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report for February Ambitions
Our mission The mission of Charity organization Serbs for Serbs is to affect on consciousness of Serbian people through our projects and humanitarian activities, in order to develop better society for future generations. Why Serbs for Serbs? We wanted to alleviate impaired spirit of Serbian people in togetherness and brotherhood help through humanitarian work and social aid. Who do we help? We help Serbian families who live in the Balkans, have five or more children and live in terrible poverty. Under terrible poverty we define absence of one or more basic factors required for living: food, clothes, shoes, and safe space for living. Why do we help? We believe that there is a basic need for one human (or a group) to help others in distress. A help is not only human virtue but also a Christian responsibility. By focusing our help on families with many children, we directly affect on their stirring toward becoming independent from socialdependable government programs. Indirectly, we want to affect on birth rate of Serbian people that has been in great decline in last 20 years. What are our long term goals? • family is ready to support itself daily and manage to pay all required expenses and bills; • their children are encouraged to continue with school and raising their own family; • our donors are satisfied with the activities and they are ready to help other families; • our organization is satisfied with the results; • family is ready in the future to become our donor and if necessary help other families that are in need of help.
www.serbsforserbs.org 2013 Who do we need in organization? We need members and donors that will secure financial stability through supporting our programs and activities in the future. Donors may join our daily activities within the organization in order to coordinate our work better. We also need volunteers ready to donate several hours per week for actual work within the organization. Activities of volunteers and their specific tasks would be determined by the required projects and their personal interest. From that group of volunteers we would look for future leaders of organization.
How to donate? 1. PayPal donation: szsamerika@gmail.com 2. Direct Deposit to Wells Fargo Bank account Please email us at: szsamerika@gmail.com 3. You can mail personal or business check to: Serbs for Serbs PO Box 34206 Chicago, IL 60634 4. Donation boxes: BEOGRAD CAFÉ 2937 West Irving Park Road Chicago, Illinois Owner: Dule Pavlovic DANI’S DELI 7316 West Lawrence Avenue Harwood Heights, Illinois SANDY’S BAKERY 5857 West Lawrence Avenue Chicago, Illinois Owner: Slava and Sretena Damjanovic BALKAN BAKERY 541 South LaGrange Road LaGrange, Illinois Owner: Olja Igic COMPASS FUEL STATION 8147 Joliet Road McCook, Illinois Owner: Roy and Maria Dobrasinovic
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report for February
www.serbsforserbs.org 2013
HELP ARRIVED FOR FAMILY ANTIC
Members of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs from Nis visited and helped family Antic from the village Drenovac near Vranje on Saturday, February 2. The help we provided consisted in buying two beds (43,200 dinars), two comforters (3,980 dinars) and groceries (9,100 dinars). The help was provided by the members and donors of our organization from Switzerland. Further help for this family is also planned.
The village Drenovac is 15 km away from Vranje, in a very inaccessible terrain. Only the special vehicle can reach it, and when it’s raining or snowing, it is almost impossible to get there. After two unsuccessful attempts due to snow, we used the nice weather and visited the family. The conditions under which this family lives shocked us despite the fact that we met many difficult cases in our work so far. Father Novica and mother Dusanka live with their children Miljana (15), Aleksandar (14), Stefana (8) and Dimitrije (6) surrounded by conditions unworthy of people in the 21st century.
The condition is even more difficult due to the fact that the father has alcohol problems, which he is trying to resolve, and that the mother has psychical problems, barely communicates and she is not capable of taking care of herself. All the burden of running the household is shared by Aleksandar and Miljana. Although they are very young, they are struggling to help their family.
Their situation is extremely difficult. Old and ruined house in which the family lives is neither functional nor safe for life. There is only one „usable“ room in the house of about 15 m2, in which all of them live. The appearance resembles the horror movies! The ceiling is in such bad condition that it can fall every moment, and the floor is made of dirt and boards above the basement, so there is a danger of falling through the floor. Prior to our visit, all six of them were sleeping periodically in two old and practically useless beds, without comforters or blankets, wearing all the clothing in order to get some warm.
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report for February
www.serbsforserbs.org 2013
The family doesn’t have a bathroom or the water in the house. Since the well has dried up, older children bring water every day from the spring which is about 500 meters away from the house. They are taking a bath in a trough, heating the water in the rusty pot on the old wood-burning stove.
The family has become known to the public through “Vesti online”, and a lot of people provided temporarily help. We managed to deliver a refrigerator, a gift from a donor from Switzerland. However, the family needs permanent solution that would change their lives. Charity organization Serbs for Serbs will consider with the friends from Vranje, with whom we visited the family, and whom we thank, of the best way to help family Antic. We are considering building a new house, setting the prefabricated house, buying the tractor and mechanization, etc. We will soon commence the big action of gathering the means to help the Antic family, of which we will notify all our donors and the people of good will who wish to enable decent life to family Antic. Although they have plenty of land and the wood around the house, family Antic doesn’t have necessary mechanization and the equipment for farming. They don’t want to leave their house, despite our proposal to start an action and move them. They hope that they will manage to get the mechanization in order to provide decent life for themselves. In order to arrive to school, the youngest members of the family need to go on foot for 45 minutes in a single direction. The difficult situation (because the family receives 9.200 dinars of social benefit) is even worse due to the fact that the oldest daughter Miljana needs to pay 3.000 dinars per month for the transportation to Vranje where she attends Agriculture high school.
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report for February CHRISTMAS SFS ACTION AT FAMILY TODOROVIC
A two-member team from Pozarevac visited on February 1, 2013, family Todorovic from the village Vodice near Smederevska Palanka. Although we helped this hard working family several times before, by buying beds, material for the isolation of the house, equipping the bathroom (which represents part of the project „Three-pointer from the blocks“), the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs considered that family Todorovic should by no means be forgotten during the season, so we decided to provide a refrigerator (20,490 dinars) and a cow (57,600 dinars) in the scope of the Christmas action.
www.serbsforserbs.org 2013 Bathroom after the conducted action of help:
The cow means a lot to this family, and the members of the family expressed their gratitude.
Earlier appearance of the bathroom:
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report for February
www.serbsforserbs.org 2013
TOGETHER FOR FAMILY ZUNIC!
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs continues to visit and help the most endangered families with many children on the Balkan. On Saturday, February 9, the members and friends of the organization visited family Zunic near Cacak. The family has eleven children. We delivered food and hygiene in the amount of 10,000 dinars.
Mother Slavica and father Zeljko live with their children Milorad (21), Jovana (18), Marko (17), Milos (14), Rade (13), Marta (12), Velimir (7) and the youngest Bojana (4). The three oldest daughters are married and have their families. Both Slavica and Zeljko are unemployed, so the only income consists of the social help in the amount of 16,500 dinars which is always late.
The family lives in a house which a donor from abroad gave them. The house has three rooms, a living room, kitchen with the dining room and a bathroom. The windows are old, so there is moisture in the house. Only one room is being heated during the winter, so some of the family members must sleep in cold bedrooms. They have a wood-burning stove and a refrigerator. They don’t have electric stove or the freezer.
The water heater and a washing machine are broken, but they don’t need them anyway at the moment, because the house doesn’t have water. The water pump which delivered the water from the well to the house is broken, so the house lost the water. Mother Slavica is washing everything outside the house, and they bring the water for drink from the well. The family doesn’t have a single closet in the house. Their debt for electricity has reached 45,000 dinars.
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report for February
www.serbsforserbs.org 2013
They have some land – a croft of 13,5 acres and 70 acres which some people donated for them to use. There is also a well from which they bring the water. The cesspool is unsound.
Given the number of the family members, their current financial situation and the desire to live depending on their work, the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs decided to help this family to fulfill its dreams. For start, we will provide a water pump, so that the house could have water again. After that we will provide means for work and furniture so that the children could have the same conditions like their peers.
The oldest son Milorad is trying to provide income for his family by planting the land and working for a wage. Since they don't own the agricultural mechanization, he needs to borrow the motocultivator. He and his father Zeljko made a barn behind the house, so they have the conditions for growing the animals. The family is prepared to work, but they need help. They would like a motocultivator in order to plant the land and work for a wage. They have the desire and the conditions to grow pigs, cows, sheep and hens, but their bad financial situation are not allowing them to do so. Mother Slavica would like a greenhouse in the yard, in order to feed the family and sell the products on the market.
This is going to be a huge challenge for us and we hope that with the help of donors we will succeed in providing the family Zunic the conditions for decent life! Let us change the life of this family together! Join us!
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report for February
www.serbsforserbs.org 2013
CHRISTMAS SFS ACTION IN KRAJINA
Branko and Biljana Trazivuk
Family Calic with double-decker bed with mattresses The last activity in the scope of our big Christmas action has been finished by delivering help to the four families in Lika and Dalmacija. With the help of the friends of organization from Krajina, the action has been successfully conducted. We helped the families Trazivuk and Vujasinovic from Kistanje, family Calic from the village Brgut near Benkovac and family Kovacevic from Donji Lapac.
Family Vujasinovic consists of parents Dalibor and Nikolina and children Anñelina (6) and Jovan (3). Dalibor is also working as a superintendent, and has the same income as Branko. His grandmother is living with them. Nikolina is not employed. Dalibor commenced growing sheep several months ago, and he has a barn, in which the roof is in bad condition. Since he is planning to get more sheep, we decided to provide material for the barn. This family received help from the monastery Ocestovo, which donated old material which can be used for the barn.
The help we delivered was in the amount of 2,050 EUR, and it consisted in the following: • • • •
a chainsaw; construction material; roof tiles; double-decker bed.
Our friends first visited and helped a four-member family of Milorad Kovacevic, who lives in the municipality Donji Lapac. We have helped this family several times before, and this time we recieved the request to get them a chainsaw. After that, we helped the families in Kistanje and Benkovac. Family Trazivuk consists of parents Branko and Biljana, and children Milica (11) and Teodora (6). Branko is working in the Krka monastery as a superintendent, while Biljana is engaged in the season jobs. Branko's mother, aunt and sister live with them. Since the salary of 200 EUR is not enough for them, Branko is also growing goats. He has an old barn, which he plans to spread, so we decided to get them the material for the roof of the barn.
Dalibor Vujasinovic with material Both families are returnees, and they both plan to stay on their land, which was the main reason for helping them. The last family our friends visited and helped was a sixmember family Calic, whom we visited during our action in September. We decided to deliver a doubledecker bed with mattresses, so that the youngest members of the family would have elementary conditions for a normal life. By this humble activity in Krajina, we partly made the Christmas for our families happier. We also commence a new season of helping the returnee families in Krajina, which will continue after the Easter and at the beginning of autumn, like in the previous years.
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report for February
www.serbsforserbs.org 2013
HELP FOR FAMILY TRIFKOVIC FROM PALE
In the name of our organization we thank everyone and we hope to continue this work. May God help us.
CHAINSAW FOR FAMILY JESIC
In the scope of the big Christmas action, which was conducted in the Republic of Srpska, the members of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs visited and helped family Trifkovic from Pale. The family consists of the parents Koja and Sandra and their children Damjan (18), Dimitrije (17), Tijana (15), Jovana (14) and Marija (12). After the dismissal of Koja from his job in a local firm, he has tried to find another job, but it was very difficult. We decided to deliver them help, which consisted in getting a used motocultivator (3,500 KM), and a chainsaw (900 KM).
In the aim of taking care of the family Jesic from Prijepolje, and reaching a long-term solution for their various problems, the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs decided to get a chainsaw in the value of 40,162 dinars.
They wish to grow land, in order to live from their work, but the financial crisis and the previous war prevented them from doing that. We concluded that their wish can be fulfilled with the help of our noble donors. The family was thrilled when they found out that the organization was going to help them. Father Kojo insisted in participating in the expenses, so he added 100 KM for the saw. We provided the appliances that will help them in earning money. Their gratitude is immense, and they can't stop thanking us.
Let us remember, there are six children in the family, and our organization has helped them several times before, by delivering house appliances, firewood, school equipment and wardrobe. We believe that a chainsaw will enable the family to earn money and satisfy its needs.
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report for February SUCCESSFUL PALACINKA PARTY IN CHICAGO
www.serbsforserbs.org 2013 We had a great turn-out for the event. A large amount of friends and family came with their children. We also had many first time guests for whom we spent much of the evening introducing and explaining our charity organization and how it works to help impoverished Serbian children and their families.
On Saturday, Feb 23rd, Serbs for Serbs held another palacinka party in Chicago. Hosted by brother and sister Nikola (18) & Natalia Josipovic (19), the event was a huge success. Through the sale of t-shirts ($290) and collecting donations ($1,430)we were able to raise $1,720 in total.
The palacinke were amazing thanks to Sonja, Goran and Ceca. There was plenty for everyone along with other fruits and pita snacks. We tried, as always, to only use Serbian products for this event, in a show of support for Serbian exports.
We would also like to make a special mention that our host Natalia is a cancer survivor. At 16, she was diagnosed with cancer, and with a lot of support, love and faith in god, she is now cured and helping others!!!
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report for Febru February
www.serbsforserbs.org 2013
Donors in February: 1. Compass Fuel donation box (IL) - $67 2. Balkan Bakery donation box (IL) - $ 15 3. Sandy's Bakery donation box (IL) - $28 4. Beograd Café donation box (IL) - $83 5. Dani's Deli donation box (IL) - $55 6. St. Nikola, Brookfield d.box (IL) - $72 7. Goran Predovic (IL) - $40 8. Nikola Letic (IL) - $40 9. Dan Kovacevic (IL) - $25 10. Dragisa Stanimirovic - $ 50 11. www.cikaskisrbi.com - $25 12. Jovika Gavric (FL) - $20 13. Tihomir Bajic (CAN) - $100 14. Milan Dobras (AZ) - $15 15. Slav Karach (GA) - $25 16. Ricardo Hernandez (IL) - $30 17. Milan Stojanovic (CAN) - $50 CAD 18. Ivan Aksentijevich (MD) - $25 19. 171 Technologies - $20 20. N. V. (CA) - $120 21. Dragana W. - $50 22. Ivan Radulovic (NY) - $25 23. Aleksandar Zivanovic - $50 (for family Antic) 24. Aleksandar Micic (MO) - $15 25. Irena Gumbert (CA) - $25 26. Radmila Avlijas (CAN) - $15 27. Jelena Kecojevic (CA) - $15 28. Tanja Radovanovic - $10 29. Srdjan Knezevic - $40 30. Делије Њујорк (PA) - $16.53 31. B. Bojanic (CA) - $15 32. Делије Пенсилванија (PA) - $15 33. Brankica Blazanovic (AZ) - $15 34. Zeljko Bajic (CAN) - $50 35. Jovica Vukadin (CAN) - $25 36. Marija Cetnik (IL) - $30 37. Dragisa Djordjevic (MD) - $15 38. Tanja Radovanovic - $20 39. Nina & Maksim Krsmanovic (NY) - $50 40. Zeljka Bucalo (NV) - $50 41. Marta Stojanovic (CAN) - $25 42. Srdjan Markovic (CA) - $25 43. Palacinka Party in Chicago (IL) - $1,720 44. Ankica D. (NJ) - $25 45. Zeljko Jelaca - $15 46. Nebojsa Nadazdin (CAN) - $ 100 47. Sinisa Peric (MD) - $25 48. Nikcon (CA) - $50 ______________________
Number of donors in 2013. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Donations in 2013. 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0
TOTAL IN FEBRUARY: $3,435.41
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report for February
www.serbsforserbs.org 2013
CHARITY ORGANIZATION SERBS FOR SERBS
www.serbsforserbs.org office@serbsforserbs.org szsamerika@gmail.com
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS