BY SUZIE ROTH
Cardinal Staff
When Saint Mary’s University junior Ania McNamara returned from studying abroad last semester, she took back not only great memories of Italy, but the feeling of finally being home.
After her semester studying abroad, while still in Europe, McNamara took the opportunity to travel to Poland, where she spent the first four years of her life growing up in the Dom Dziecka Orphanage, which means House of Children in Polish. McNamara said the best part about visiting was that “every fear, tear, emotion was absolutely perfect.” The same nun that helped raised her was still there and even recognized McNamara as soon as she arrived. Upon returning home from her “unexplainable” experience, McNamara decided to start the Chotomow Children’s Fundraiser for the children she left behind at the orphanage in Poland. The fundraiser helps raise money for McNamara to send 30 individualized Christmas gifts, fleece blankets, Christmas cards and candy bags to the 30 children, ranging in ages from three to nineteen, who live at the orphanage.
With every penny donated going to this cause, McNamara said she has been overjoyed with the response she has gained thus far in her efforts. With so many people having some Polish connection or just giving from the generosity of their hearts and the season, McNamara said the response to her efforts has been mind-blowing. Even her hometown newspaper, the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Minnesota Public Radio have helped spread the world of McNamara’s efforts.
Along with McNamara, her friends have aided the cause of the fundraiser. McNamara calls seniors Nikki Kolupalio and Allyson Friestleben the backbone to this fundraiser for the countless hours they have spent with her shopping for the perfect gift for each child. The girls even picked out a gift for the five to seven nuns that run the orphanage.
With Poland being so far away and UPS being so expensive, McNamara is grateful for Pac N’Mail in Winona. Pack N’ Mail has helped her and senior Bailey England pack up each box in order to ship them to the orphanage. These efforts took two days alone.
Ania not only wants to visit her old orphanage again but make a difference. “I want to keep helping and giving to the orphanage,” said McNamara. “There are so many things I think I could help with, such as teaching the children English and helping around the place. I want to return and do something that is going to help them.”McNamara hopes to go back to Poland with her three sisters, also adopted from Dom Dziecka, and her mother Grace McNamara, a 1977 SMU alum.
Anyone interested in donating to The Chotomow Children’s Fundraiser can send donations to Chotomow Children at campus box # 1268.
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