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.
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 $15,650 per person and $19,550 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.