2012
CHARITY ORGANIZATION SERBS FOR SERBS
Monthly Report www.serbsforserbs.org
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 No. 2 February, 2012
Monthly Report Dear friends and donors, 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 are a 501(c)(3) notfor-profit charitable organization. Donation is tax-deductible deductible to the extent followed by the law. On 30th September, 2011 we finally 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 because of starvation and malnutrition. ion. There, among us, the blind and deaf. We are witnesses of the bad demographic situation of our nation, ion, decreasing natality, increasing number of singles, abortions, accelerated aging of
www.serbsforserbs.org 2012 the population and generally bad economic condition of the households in Serbia, Republic of Srpska and other countries in the Balkan. 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 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 gr 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 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 ld 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
www.serbsforserbs.org 2012 • 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.
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 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.
Who do we help? We help Serbian families who live in the Balkans, have five or more children and live in terrible poverty. How do we define “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;
How to donate? 1. PayPal email: szsamerika@gmail.com One time donation to SFS 2. Monthly donation 3. Donate by Mail Serbs for Serbs PO Box 34206 Chicago, IL 60634 Make all checks payable to: Serbs for Serbs
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report
www.serbsforserbs.org 2012
CHRISTMAS SFS ACTION IN KRAJINA
• family Repac – 5 sheep; In the scope of the great Christmas action, in the second half of January, the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs helped four families from the Serbian Krajina in Lika. We helped the families Duraković (two children), Repac (two children) and Došen (two children) in the municipality Donji Lapac, and family Nakarada (one child) in Ličko Petrovo Selo. The total amount spent in the action was 2,300 EUR. The help we delivered to the families: • family Duraković – 6 sheep;
• family Došen – chainsaw and wood-burning stove;
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report
www.serbsforserbs.org 2012
• family Nakarada – machine for the mixture of colors and glue; children bed with a closet.
Except for the help we mentioned, we also brought hygiene packages, diapers and sweets. The action was conducted with the help of the friends of the organization from that area. We use this opportunity to thank them.
With faith in God, Predrag Marinković
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report
www.serbsforserbs.org 2012
HELP FOR ZVEČAN AND OSOJANE
Help delivered to Zvečan
Upon the request of the Eparchy Raško-Prizrenska and the ambulance in Osojane, the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs provided the necessary laboratory material for the highschool in Zvečan and for the ambulance in Osojane in Metohija.
As always, our friends from the Charity organization Mother of nine Jugović provided help in the delivery of the lab material. The director of the school thanked us for the help, and asked us to send his request for the school to obtain a computer and a printer for the needs of the pupils.
Help arrived in Osojane
Help from the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs was sucessfully delivered to the ambulance in Osojane, to the local lab. Several thousand people from the villages in Metohija in the municipality Istok can use the services of the ambulance. This is another help in a row to this ambulance, and we hope that the competent authority of the Republic of Serbia will take care of their institution. The help for the high school in Zvečan, provided several days ago by the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs has finaly been delivered. Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report
www.serbsforserbs.org 2012
HELP ARRIVES SOON TO ŠTRPCE
Within the great Christmas action, conducted by the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs on the southern Serbian province Kosovo and Metohija in January, the first part of the help for the Serbian families in the municipality Štrpce has been paid. We also provided help for the church of St. George in Zvečan. The total amount of the donation is 508,529 dinars. Our friends from the organization Mother of nine Jugović will soon deliver the things for the house we provided. _____________________________________________
FIREWOOD FOR THE VILLAGE MILOŠEVO DELIVERED
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs provided urgent help for the village Miloševo near Priština. We provided firewood in the amount of 40,000 dinars, and delivered it on Wednesday 15th of February, to nine families. Our friends from the Charity organization Mother of Nine Jugović delivered the help, and we use this opportunity to thank them.
There are only about 30 Serbs, of different age. They have been living in an Albanian surrounding for years, but they can still manage it. Unfortunately, after the events in 1999, most Serbs left the village, and the keepers of the village Miloševo are the families Añančić, Klajić and Dutina.
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report
www.serbsforserbs.org 2012
HELP FOR THE UROŠEVIĆ FAMILY
On Sunday 19th February, members and friends of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs from Belgrade visited and helped a seven-member family Urošević, who lives in the refugee camp Ivan Milutinović in Krnjača, Belgrade. We provided used refrigerator and laptop, new mini-stove, food, hygiene, winter wardrobe, books and school necessities to this refugee family from Zadar. We provided the following: • refrigerator – donation from the friends of the organization; • laptop – donation from the friends of the organization; • wardrobe, books and school necessities – donation from the friends of the organization; • mini-stove – 8,100 dinars; • groceries and hygiene – 21,880 dinars; • travel costs – 3,840 dinars.
After the liturgy in the Church of Saint Simeon Mirotočivi in New Belgrade, we visited the family Urošević. We were welcomed by the entire family, and they helped us bring in all the things donated by the friends of our organization.
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report
www.serbsforserbs.org 2012 one of their daughters (red meat, liver, juices...). They also need hygiene and kitchen equipment. The mother, Ana, is willing to work as a cleaning lady.
We decided to go to the store with the oldest son and one of his sisters, and buy mini-stove, groceries and hygiene, while the rest of the team remained with the parents.
The family Urošević has expressed immense gratitude to all the donors at the end of our visit. After returning to their home, we found out that the Urošević family urgently needs help in the amount of 4,000 dinars per month, to provide adequate nutrition for
Report: SFS Belgrade, Serbia
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report
www.serbsforserbs.org 2012
FURTHER UPBUILDING OF THE NIKOLIĆ HOUSE
In the scope of the Christmas action, the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs continued its project of upbuilding the house of the Nikolić family from Bojnik. After the setting of the roof construction, we entered into the third phase – setting the windows, outer and inner doors in the amount of 176,750 dinars. We plan to finish this project in the following few months.
Despite the low temperature, family Pavlović is working hard. Apart from the report of the building, we also received a news that Aleksandar has been successfully operated in Banja Luka.
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WORKING IN THE LOW TEMPERATURES We received nice news several days ago from the family Pavlović from Obudovac in the Republic of Srpska. They are hurrying to build a roof construction of the future barn, so they could breed animals and make the dairy and meet products.
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report
www.serbsforserbs.org 2012
BUILDING A HOUSE FOR THE BALOVIĆ FAMILY
In our two previous visits to the Raška area, we had the opportunity to meet the poor six-member family Balović, from the village Rajetiće on the Rogozna mountain. The village is located between the Raška area and Kosmet. It is about to be abandoned, and one of the rare families which is keeping it alive is the Balović family, who has very difficult story. Verica (1998), Veljko (1999), Sara (2003) and Kristina (2005) live with their father Tihomir, who has a brain tumor, and mother Milica who is an epileptic. The dilapidated place in which they live cannot be called a house. The inhumane conditions in which they live inspired us to start a project for building a home to the Balović family, so that they could have an opportunity to survive in the cruel mountain conditions.
We send an appeal to all the donors and friends of the organization, and to all the people of good will to actively participate in the action of raising the money for building a house to the Balović family. We, and no one else, are the last opportunity for this children to survive.
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report FIREWOOD FOR THE JEŠIĆ FAMILY
Charity organization anization Serbs for Serbs provided firewood for an eight-member member family Ješić from Prijepolje Prijepolje. The total amount of the help was 15,000 dinars dinars. We hope this made the life of the humble and hardworking family easier in these winter days, and helped it to deal with the cruel weather conditions that have affected the entire region. _____________________________________________
FOR THE DIMITRIJEVIĆ FAMILY IN THE COLD DAYS
www.serbsforserbs.org 2012 PALE MUNICIPALITY SUPPORTED THE WORK OF SFS
We are pleased to announce that another municipality in the Republic of Srpska recognized the severity and commitment of the Charity organization organiza Serbs for Serbs. Pale ale municipality has provided 1,000 1, KM from its budget for 2012 for the projects of our organization in the Republic of Srpska. This contribution will be paid at a monthly level, 83 KM per month. We are glad that more and more institutions are supporting our noble goals, and we use this opportunity to thank to the municipality of Pale for their trust.
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs helped the 12member family Dimitrijević from the village Jasenovo in the municipality Nova Varoš, by buying tthe groceries in the amount of 15,000 000 dinars dinars. We hope that this humble donation will make the cold days easier.
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report
www.serbsforserbs.org 2012
SFS VISITING THE RAJIČIĆ FAMILY
On Friday, 24th of February 2012, the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs visited the family Rajičić from Smederevo. The family consists of the single mother Maja and the children Aleksandar (13), Jovana (11), Uroš (9) and Anñela (6). Maja is in seventh month of pregnancy. The family needs the construction material to build another two rooms and a bathroom.
The family could use a closet, because they don't have enough place for the things, and after the building of a room, a stove, refrigerator, beds and other household appliances.
The house in which they live is made of the stacked blocs and they have a styrofoam to protect them from the cold. They live in 15m2, without the bathroom, kitchen or even water. Their material situation perhaps wouldn't be so difficult if Maja hadn't lost her job in 2008 for the firm Milan Blagojević. Her income today is consisting of the social help (11,000 dinars), child benefit (10,000 dinars) and the alimony (6,000 dinars). That is not enough for this family. Charity organization Serbs for Serbs will try to provide help for this family, and we call upon all the people of good will and the state institutions not to turn their heads away.
What they need the most right now is the building of another room or two, and a bathroom. Maja told us that the officials from the municipality promised 100,000 dinars, but it doesn't look as if they are going to help.
Report: Blažo Janjušević
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report
www.serbsforserbs.org 2012
PALACINKA WEEKEND
This weekend was a Palacinka Weekend in the U.S. Serbs For Serbs in Chicago IL, along with frinds and donors in Kansas City MO and Boston MA held palacinka parties this weekend. In all, $1,320.50 was raised to help Serbian children and families in need! The Boston event was organized by Ivan Vranic and his friends. The plan to organize more events in the future, including charity sports events. On Saturday, Ivan and his friends raised $200. In Kansas City, Bosko Jovanovic and his family organized a Super Bowl Palacinka Party on Sunday. Together with family members, they raised $110 for our children in need. The Chicago Palacinka Party was the third one of it's kind and the most successful to date. Hosts Jovan and Natasa Peric organized a tremendous evening of palacinke, snacks and drinks. There were many new guests and donors who were thoroughly introduced to the Serbs for Serbs organization. Many, enthusiastic donors expressed great interest in helping and planning future events.
Due to unfortunate family matters, the planned Palacinka Parties for Cleveland OH and Seattle WA had to be rescheduled. The hosts have promised to hold their events very soon. We are anxiously awaiting the next palacinka party! The $1,320.50 raised this weekend will greatly help our Serbian children and families in need, so we encourage all of you to organize your own Palacinka Parties in your home town. There is no easier and more enjoyable way to help!!!
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
Monthly Report Donors in February:
www.serbsforserbs.org 2012 30. moctapka (CAN) - $50 CAD 31. Dusan Stojkovic (IL) - $30 32. Serbosi Kanada (CAN) - $405
1. Dan Kovacevic (IL) - $25
33. Ivan Mihailovic (CA) - $50
2. Zeljka Bucalo - $50 3. Tanja Josipovic - $25
TOTAL IN FEBRUARY: $3 3,758
4. Anonymous Chicago (IL) - $30 5. Milan Dobras (AZ) - $15 6. Petko Petrovich (IL) - $20 7. Dejan Petrovic (IL) - $15
Number of donors in 2012.
8. Ivan Aksentijevich - $25 9. Palacinka Party Chicago - $1,010 10. Dragana W. - $40 11. Ivan Radulovic (NY) - $25 12. Zelimir Lucic (WA) - $50 13. Ognjen Strbanovic (NJ) - $100 14. Danijela Skondric - $20
40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
15. Palacinka Party Boston - $200 16. Palacinka Party Kansas City - $110 17. Goran Todorovic - $50 18. Milos Markovic - $30 19. Milos V. (NY) - $25
Donations in 2012.
20. Mladen Simic (TX) - $40 21. Christopher Petrovic (CAN) - $25 22. Olja Meyer (NY) - $25 23. Zeljko Bajic (CAN) - $50 24. Dusan Alempijevic (NJ) - $100 25. Alex Ilic (IL) - $15 26. Aleksandar Krsmanovic (NY) - $50
4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
27. V. R. (NJ) - $1,000 28. Sasa Savic (TX) - $30 29. Ankica D. (NJ) - $25
Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS
CHARITY ORGANIZATION SERBS FOR SERBS
www.serbsforserbs.org office@serbsforserbs.org