What we do
WE TRANSFORM LIVES
Every day, all day, someone needs help. They rely on support from generous people like you. You will make a difference in their lives and it will make a difference in yours.
HELPING IN EMERGENCY
We provided financial assistance for emergency housing after 3 story building fire in Brooklyn
COVID-19 - We delivered groceries.
We were there for a pregnant woman with her 5th child when her husband died.
Every day someone needs help
HELPING THE ELDERLY
Our 4 oldest recipients are over 90 years old!
HELPING THE DISABLED
Stanislaw lives in a shelter. Polish Assistance helped him to get prothesis and now is continiuing to support his quest for independence. Not a quick solution.
HELPING THE SICK
While undergoing chemo treatment for lung cancer, this woman had a bad reactionto the drugs. Her eyes shut and she required surgery. Because of the way she looks, people were staring at her, and she was too embarassed to walk outside. We helped. Unfortunately she lost her battle with cancer. Rest in Peace.
PROVIDING SUPPORT
Most of our beneficiaries have serious health issues. One of our most recent recipients has renal cell carcinoma of the right kidney. Another beneficiary has been in shelters for the homeless since 2012 and has a history of traumatic brain injury and seizure disorder. He is under psychiatric monitoring. A few dollars from Polish Assistance allow him to buy a few basic necessities..
HEALTHCARE
We help those who live in safety-net hospitals are New York City’s long term rehabilitation & nursing care centers and we have been providing aid to Polish residents for many years. $50 per month allows them to buy a much-needed personal items.
WARM MEALS
Polish Assistance annually co-sponsor with Polish Slavic Federal Credit Union and the Polish Consulate the Annual Holiday Wigilia dinner for the elderly and homeless.
When reviewing requests for assistance, our primary considerations are financial hardship, age and poor health such as incurable or terminal illness.♦Each applicant goes through an initial review process and is re-approved annually. The official poverty guideline starts at $12,060 per person and $16,240 for a family of two. We sadly report that most applicants meet these criteria.♦Once an applicant becomes our beneficiary, we are usually committing often to his/her support for their remaining lifetime as most of our recipients have little chance for quality of life improvement. In most cases, these individuals are seniors with serious health issues that have no means of supporting themselves. We also provide aid to patients in a “long term acute care hospital”, the city’s safety-net provider of healthcare services.♦Emergencies happen. If the condition is temporary, we may give one-time assistance or for a very short time.
- Dear Polish Assistance: "I wish you the best. You have no idea how much your assistance is critical for sick people like me. I thank you with all my hart!" Grazyna O., legally blind, diabetes, numerous health issues etc.
- Why do I give? "Simple question ... many personal reasons .. Giving back ... sharing is caring ... have done it for 3 generations ... but most of all ... I want to help alleviate human suffering?"
- Dziękuję Wam za pomoc
Our Focus
- Now more than ever, ethnic communities need help. It is not a political statement. It is just a tragic reality.
- We help the needy and desperate live out their lives in a foreign land with dignity.
- Our activities focus on the New York metropolitan area, with an increasing portion of the assistance requested and given to out-of-state individuals.
- Initially Polish Assistance supported those who came to the United States to escape communism. In Poland they had skills and they knew the language. In the U.S. they had to start all over again.
- Then we provided help to those who came here to escape the political and economic turmoil that communism created. Again, in Poland they had skills and they knew the language. In the U.S., many despite their education, performed physical labor. Some adjusted and some fell on hard times. They have no sense of belonging in the U.S. and they have no longer sense of belonging in Poland. Sadly, many families do not want the burden of the sick. Again, we help them live out their lives with dignity.
- Today, Polish skilled labor is sought after in the US. Technology today allows them to earn competitive salaries while living in Poland.