End poverty, restore dignity for Polish Seniors

Dear Friend,

In December, we introduced you to Wiesawa. We shared her story of loneliness, the silence that filled her days, and the moment someone finally knocked on her door.

Today, a few months later, we would like to return to that story and show you what happened next — because for Wiesawa, and for many other seniors, this was not a one-time act of help, but the beginning of real change.

What happened after the holidays

After the Christmas meeting and her first contact with our team, Wiesawa slowly began to return to everyday life. In the following weeks, she received regular support — warm meals, help with groceries, and access to medication.

We were also able to arrange a long-postponed doctor’s appointment. Over time, she started leaving her home more often and gradually regained a sense of safety and stability.

As she told us:

“Mornings are not the worst anymore.”

Ongoing support that makes a difference

Wiesawa’s story is just one example of what has happened over the past three months.

During this time, we have:

• reached seniors who are unable to meet their basic daily needs on their own,
• provided regular delivery of meals and essential supplies,
• supported access to medical care and treatment,
• developed our Companion Volunteer Program to ensure that no one is left completely alone.

For many seniors, this support means more than practical help. It means conversation, attention, and the reassurance that someone remembers them.

Returning to connection and activity

In recent months, some seniors have taken an even bigger step — re-engaging with the world outside their homes.

At our Day Center, “Przystanek Klementyny,” participants:

• share meals together,
• take part in workshops and daily activities,
• rebuild relationships and a sense of routine.

For many, this is the first time in a long while that they feel part of a community again.

Why this matters

Our research shows that loneliness among seniors in our region is not an exception — it is a daily reality. Many people live for long periods without meaningful contact, support, or access to basic care.

That is why continuity matters so much. Real change does not come from a single moment of help, but from regular presence— from showing up again and again, and slowly rebuilding a sense of dignity and security.

Thank you

Everything that has happened over the past three months was possible because of you.

Your support did not end with a holiday gesture. It became part of something ongoing — something that continues to change lives every day.

Thank you for being with us, and for helping us be there for those who need it most.

Dear Friend,

I want to tell you a story. One that happens every single day in southern Mazovia — yet almost no one talks about it.
It’s the story of Wiesawa, age 83.

“I haven’t spoken to another human being for a week.”

When we entered her home, she said it almost in a whisper. The kitchen was cold. In the fridge — butter, bread, and a bowl filled with medications.

“The worst part is the morning. I wake up, make tea, look out the window… and I have no one to say good morning to.”

This is the daily reality of thousands of seniors in our region.

From our recent study, we know that:

• 35,000 seniors live alone

• 20,000 have no one to talk to when they feel sad

• 9,800 have no one to call in the evening

• 28% show symptoms of depression — more than the national average

These aren’t statistics.
These are lives.

Now let me tell you what happened next.

For over a year, Wiesawa kept saying she could “manage on her own.”
But she couldn’t anymore. She was dizzy, stopped going to the doctor, and ate once a day.

Then, one day, she heard a knock on the door.

It was our volunteer.
It was us.
It was you — because your support made that moment possible.

We brought her a warm meal.

It was her first hot meal in three days.

“I can’t remember the last time someone did something for me.”

Because of you:

• we deliver 4,500 hot meals every month,

• we do groceries for those who can’t leave home,

• we deliver medications, heating fuel, and seal windows before winter.

You don’t just help seniors eat.
You help them breathe again.

We sat with her at the table

As we began talking, Wiesawa said:

“You know… I had forgotten what it feels like to talk to someone. It’s like air returning to my lungs.”

In our study, seniors told us:

“A person goes quiet. And then no one notices that I’m gone.”

That’s why we created the Companion Volunteer Program —
Because a conversation can save more than a day. It can save a life.

 We helped her schedule a doctor’s appointment

Maria had postponed the visit for a year because:

• she had no transport,

• she was afraid to ask for help,

• she didn’t want to “be a burden.”

This is the story of thousands of seniors in our region.

According to our findings:

• 20,000 seniors cannot reach specialists,

• 10,000 don’t visit their primary doctor often enough,

• many abandon treatment due to shame and isolation.

Because of you, we can drive them safely to care.

We invited her to the Klementyna Day Center

Two weeks later, Wiesawa:

• drank coffee in company,

• joined cooking workshops,

• laughed with other women,

• touched new things, new stories, new beginnings.

She told us:

“I thought I no longer had anyone to live for. Now I have someone to get dressed for.”

Every day, 25 seniors regain strength, movement, and dignity in our Day Center.

And this Christmas Eve…

Wiesawa will sit at a long table with 600 other seniors. She will receive a gift. 

This is the impact you will help create.

Thank you for walking into these homes with us.
Thank you for helping us break the silence.
Thank you for being here.