• Why Bosnia?
• Thank You
• The First Shipment
• The Second Shipment
• The Numbers
• Medical Assistance
• Family Support
• What's Next?
• Help
• Apology
• Pictures (New)

Why Bosnia?

This is a question we are asked often, It is true that there are needy people everywhere. We were particularly attracted to the situation in the former Yugoslavia countries because we had been there several time before the war. We stayed in bed and breakfasts all over the country and got to know many wonderful people there. When the war broke out we were shocked to watch TV reports of bombings in Dubrovnik and Mostar, places we had been, streets we had walked, in beautiful cities with such rich histories. When we heard of families being attacked and expelled from their homes in towns that we stayed, this became more personal. They had no "safety net" as people do here in America - no welfare, no homeless shelters or food programs. They were on their own. We couldn’t just standby and watch.

Thank You!! Channel 7 News SkyNet WorldWide Express California Movers Express Russo Photography Studio

When One Family was suggested as a possible name for our efforts, it was immediately chosen because it represented so many aspects of what we were doing. We were one family - a mother, six children and their families all committed to helping refugees in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Also, our original plan was to get one family at a time - the most needy that we could find - out of a refugee camp and help them to become self sufficient. But the strongest attraction to this name is our belief that everyone in the world is a member of one family. This is the reason for the design of our logo. We are all one and when one member of our family hurts, we should all work to relieve the pain. This is the thought that drives us and, judging by your response to Channel 7 News’ call, you feel the same way. As you read the articles in this news letter, you can see that you did make a difference. The things that you gave us to take for you are in Bosnia and Croatia right now warming the hearts and hands of hundreds of refugees. We want to pass along the many, many hvalas (Thank you’s) that we received for you. We also want to express our gratitude for your generosity and for enabling us to represent you as we handed out your blankets, sleeping bags, jackets, clothing, toys, school supplies, candy and the medicine that we purchased with your donations.

When the first One Family segment was shown on Channel 7 News, we were completely unprepared for the number of phone calls that would follow. The phone seemed to ring continuously. We heard from over 500 families from all over the Bay Area, Central Valley, Lake Tahoe and Lake County in the first two weeks. They all had contributions for us to pick up. Working as quickly as we could with our three pickup trucks, we were able to collect from about half of those families and, with the help of many volunteers, got everything sorted and packed in time for the flight. During Thanksgiving week, SkyNet Worldwide Express loaded the shipment into an airfreight container and sent it on a commercial flight to Milan. It weighed over 9,200 pounds. In Milan the shipment was transferred to a truck and taken to Rome and then on to Bosnia-Herzegovina, crossing the Adriatic on a ferry boat. We took everything to Capljina, a city with 2,500 refugee families living in abandoned homes. With the help of a Priest there, we were able to distribute the blankets & clothing to the refugees, medicine to their pharmacy and toys to the orphan, refugee and local children in the school. It felt good to finally be there and doing something first-hand to help relieve some of the suffering. It also felt good to know that we were providing a link from all of you at home to the people of Capljina. It gave us plenty of motivation to get back again with more supplies as soon as we could.

We learned from the first shipment that we had to change the way we were collecting your donations. It took too much time to go to every house. Often we would make a pick-up and leave an area and have a call from another family in that same area a few days later. So this time we tried setting up drop-off points.
People from all over the Bay Area volunteered to let donations be dropped off at their homes and accumulate there for us to pick up. We also rented large trucks and parked them in central locations for pick-up days. As you can see from the numbers, this worked much better. We almost collected everything.
Many volunteers spent their weekends with us sorting and packing at a warehouse in Hayward. We couldn’t have been ready in time for the flight without them!
SkyNet made the flight arrangements and helped us with the cost. This time the container was flown to Zagreb, Croatia and then trucked to Split where we met it and took it to Drnis, Croatia. This town of 20,000 people and the area surrounding it for many miles was completely destroyed during the war. We were shocked by the devastation.
The families had evacuated and were just starting to return. As you can imagine, your donations were very much needed there. We visited many villages and were invited into a number of destroyed homes where the people were still living.

In Benkovac, we delivered 12 suitcases of medicine and several boxes of medical supplies to the hospital. We met and helped refugee families in Gradska, Bosnia-Herzegovina who had been forced out of their homes destroyed during the war. They were living in abandoned homes there knowing that at any time the owner can return to claim the property. Their plight didn’t keep them from smiling when our interpreter explained to them that the stuffed animals, wooden toys, dolls, coloring books, candy canes, tootsie rolls, powdered milk and vegetable seeds were all sent with love from you.
From Gradska we traveled to Mostar, a distance of about 70 miles. The road took us along the beautiful Neretva River through gorgeous valleys. It must have been a wonderful place to live at one time, but now, every home along the way was missing it’s roof and was full of rubble. Hundreds of them standing as evidence of the suffering that took place there. It was rare to see people in these villages or around these homes. It made you wonder where they were.
We found some of them just outside of Mostar, living in a camp made up of modified shipping containers. Here we distributed blankets and more of the same things we gave out in Gradska.. The people were so grateful for the gifts and were particularly touched by the fact that this came all the way from California for them. They know you care and that makes all the difference.

As you read this, take satisfaction in the fact that you and your Bay Area neighbors have helped hundreds of people in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. Because of you, we were able to collect or purchase and ship the following:

and give $1,800 in support directly to families by purchasing goats, wood burning stoves and food for them. The total weight in both shipments is 22,650 pounds.

To date we have been able to deliver close to $55,000 worth of much needed medicines and medical supplies to hospitals and clinics. Three doctors in particular have generously given large amounts of their office medicine supplies to help these hospitals. Thank you Drs. Gross, Chimenti and Wald at Seton Hospital. Dr. Gross spent a lot of time researching a particular medicine that was badly needed. Thanks to his efforts we were able to purchase it in Europe. Many people donated medicine and medical supplies. We desperately needed a wheel chair, and thanks to the Independent Order of Foresters, we received it. Then TWA Airlines let us take it and our 12 suitcases full of medicine at no charge. Thank you all for your incredible generosity.

Family Support One Family is currently supporting two families in Bosnia Herzegovina through both monthly financial allotments as well as specifically needed household amenities. Stoyan and his wife live in a small village called Medjugorje. Their son was killed in the war leaving two grand children and a daughter-in-law. The family is currently separated because of the war but has hopes of returning to the village they were driven from to be together again and rebuild their lives. This is not possible yet since the area they were originally from is now under Serbian control and they probably won’t be allowed back. On our first visit, we found them in desperate need of blankets, clothing and coats; shoes for his grandchildren and money to survive. In November we established a monthly fund for them and brought them the blankets and household items they needed. Upon our return in January we found them in much better condition. They don’t live with the daily fear of losing the home they’re in and plan to start a garden this Spring. They are also able to give more help to their daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Our second family is comprised of a Mother (pregnant and due this month), father (Slavko), 3 children (ages 3-8), the mother’s brother, sister and her newborn. Their situation is far more unstable than Stoyan’s. Any day the original Gradska inhabitants could return to reclaim their homes. Slavko’s family along with the others in this village would have to leave. They would be forced to seek shelter in a camp. This unknown is preventing them from putting down roots and establishing a home .It’s very difficult for them to do the things necessary for long term survival with the threat of imminent expulsion hanging over their heads. We were able to leave Slavko’s family with money for seeds, a heater, and a few staples. Our contact in Bosnia will stay in touch with both Stoyan and Slavko to ensure their basic needs are being met. Thanks to all of you who helped with the financial donations that made their lives a bit more comfortable and hopeful. As you can see from the picture on page 2, Slavko’s children really enjoyed the toys and candy.

Now that the Bosnian Winter will soon be over, we are shifting our attention to the day-to-day things the refugees and orphans need to improve their quality of life. Everywhere we went they asked us for powdered milk. So one of our priorities is to help them to have an on-going supply of milk by purchasing goats from Germany. We also want to purchase small refrigerators for those with electricity so they can keep the milk and other foods fresh for days.

Other items we are looking for are:
1. Baby formula
2. Disposable diapers (baby & adult)
3. Vitamins (children & adult)
4. Cooking oil
5. Powdered milk (Low Fat)
6. Musical instruments (music is therapeutic!)
7. Sports Equipment
8. Coloring Books & Crayons
9. New Underwear
10. New Pots, Pans & Utensils
11. School Supplies
12. Financial help to purchase: Flour, Sugar & Beans etc. Wood Burning Stoves Garden Seeds If you can help with any of these, please call us at (510) 838-2301.
One thing to remember is that we can purchase most of the items in bulk thus getting more for a dollar than with single purchases. Also, if you would like to share in the purchase of a goat or refrigerator, or help in the support of a family, please send your check made out to One Family and specify how you would like your donation spent. We are planning to have everything together to send containers in late June and September.