Doug Brendel (a member of Ipswich/Rowley Rotary) gave us a very lively and enthusiastic presentation (his 145th) about “New Thing”, a non profit organization in Belarus (a former Soviet republic, which is landlocked and shares boarders with Russia, Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine), which Doug and Kristina Brendel founded. Belarus is a nation devastated by Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, the Chernobyl – and is still suffering in many ways.
In spite of complicated politics, myriad restrictions, and nagging poverty, the U.S. Charity New Thing meets serious needs among the 9 million people of Belarus. The all-Belarusian “Response of the Heart” team inside the country brings in tons of donated food, clothing, medical equipment, diapers, furniture, the list goes on. It’s all shared face to face, heart to heart:
In shelters for abused and abandoned children
Orphanages and centers for disabled children
Among the homeless (through the New Thing soup kitchen)
In hospitals and clinics
Juvenile detention centers
Homes for the mentally ill
and more
New Thing in the U.S. is all-volunteer. Every penny raised through donations goes into Belarus. So, the entire operation happens for some $8,000 a month. Doug will email free photo reports of New Thing’s work in Belarus. His email is: email@newthing.net.