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Published on 01/25/1999 All articles from this issue

Sister Cities seeks help for Russian winter

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By Clyde Noel

Special to the Town Crier

Los Altos Sister Cities, Inc. is a nonprofit community organization that fosters friendly ties with citizens from around the world. Relationships have blossomed with several sister cities. One, Syktyvkar in Russia, desperately needs help to survive the winter, Los Altos officials said.

The Sister Cities program needs an additional $7,000 to continue its winter aid program.

"Tragedies are going on all over the world, but they are brought home when you know the people," said Dick Hasenpflug, president of the Sister Cities program. "Our thoughts turn to those less fortunate than we are, so I spent the Thanksgiving holidays in Syktyvkar organizing the Syktyvkar Winter Aid program (SWAP)."

There are currently 2,164 school-aged children in Syktyvkar whose family income is below the official poverty level of 560 rubles per month per child ($31 in U.S. funds). The SWAP supplements school lunches by adding a glass of juice or a small salad. Lunch is the most substantial meal of the day.

The SWAP program also helps 69 families struggling to survive with a severely handicapped child living at home. In many cases the family's only income is $360 rubles ($20). SWAP has agreed to provide each family with a monthly package of bulk food at a cost of $10 each.

Students and instructors at the Teachers College, many of whom have visited Los Altos over the years, are facing a difficult winter and only receive about $20 per month to feed themselves, Hasenpflug said. Many instructors are in a desperate condition and need help to survive, he said.

The immediate problem is a shortage of funds to carry over the remaining winter months. Approximately $7,000 is needed to provide a satisfactory subsistence and to complete the program.

James Quinn, project leader of the SWAP program, said there need be no skepticism about sending money to Syktyvkar. Funds are deposited in the Bank of Los Altos and transferred to the Komi Branch of the Russian Savings Bank. Funds are released on documentary proof that they are being transferred according to the formal agreement of the aid program. All expenditures are audited and reported to Los Altos Sister Cities, Inc.

Karen Fox, a member of Sister Cities, visited Syktyvkar during Christmas. She reported that all three components of the program have been implemented and record keeping is outstanding in detail and documentation. Fox visited three of the 25 schools where needy students receive lunch supplements.

In one of the schools, Fox said the food was a gift from Los Altos, their sister city in California. Social worker Aemphira Levyatova replied, "To us, it is a gift from God."

For more information on how to make a donation to the program, call Dick Hasenpflug at 949-5158.