Rože Somkaitė

Joy to Many…

Rože Šomkaitė has energetically volunteered her time not only for the Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid but also for many Lithuanian organizations for most of her life.

No sooner had Lithuania reestablished her independence, the Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid began to ship humanitarian aid to large families, schools and orphanages. It has sent off books and literature for university libraries as well as medical and physical therapy equipment for hospitals. Sixteen containers have been dispatched overseas in the last four years alone.

Schools in the Vilnius area requested typewriters. Thirty-five schools took advantage of the 130 computers they received to start computer classes. Panevezys held a weeklong computer training session for teachers. Home economics classes benefited from sewing machines, patterns, and cloth; knitting and weaving classes received yarn. Several country schools in the Vilnius area were sent world globes, writing utensils, books, pens, colored pencils, notebooks and paper. Middle schools put microscopes and chemical lab equipment to good use. Clothing, footwear, and food make up most of the shipments.

This huge Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid undertaking could not happen without the help of a group of dedicated New Jersey volunteers or the use of premises donated by Dr. Alice Navit. The young dentist has not only offered the use of her property but has spread the word among her patients who now come with donations.

On April 10, 1999, a container sailed for Lithuania loaded with 1,200 boxes addressed to 32 schools, eight schools of higher learning, Scouts and other youth camps, three parishes, five family centers, two religious congregations, two hospitals, the Country Children's Fund, the Lithuanian Catholic Women's Association, the Political Prisoner and Exile Society, three orphanages and many large families.

The Lord has blessed us in the person of Ms. Mathilda Miliauskas, chairperson of the charity committee of the Lithuanian Citizens Society of Western Pennsylvania. Through Ms. Miliauskas’ efforts, the club filled one-third of the container with footwear, clothes, toys and books for children, sewing machines, bicycles, computers, and kitchen items. Ms. Miliauskas supplemented all these goodies with a $500 donation to help defray some of the container packing expenses. She is truly a gift from God! Our most sincere thanks to Mathilda and the members of the Lithuanian Citizens Society of Western Pennsylvania who responded so generously to their president's call for action.

Our second Guardian Angel is Mrs. Madeline Petkus, social affairs chair of the South Jersey Lithuanian Club of Whiting, NJ. This club once again delivered some 100 packed boxes for the container to Lithuania. A simple message always accompanies their gifts: "May this reach those whose need is the greatest." Our heartfelt thanks to our good angel Madeline Petkus and Whiting’s South Jersey Lithuanian Club.

The members of these two clubs probably don't even realize the joy their gifts bring to children and their parents. Take for example the little 4 year-old girl who tucks her newly obtained shoes under her pillow so that no one can take them away from her. And maybe the adults will begin to believe in the goodness of God and their fellow men.