KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave., stepped right into action once Ukrainians began to flee when Russia invaded their country in February 2022.
Many Ukrainian children and their moms made their way to the Northeast while the men remained to fight.
KleinLife, thanks to private donations and grants, offers the children a summer camp and a KidSpace after-school enrichment program each weekday that includes a hot meal, homework help, art, swimming, dance, baking, games and sports activities with Mariya Ryemyen, a medal-winning Olympic sprinter from Ukraine.
And, for the third year in a row, KleinLife organized a New Year’s party for 100 Ukrainian children and family members.
“We don’t know how not to help,” said Victoria Faykin, KleinLife vice president. “They have nice holidays at home, and we try our best at KleinLife to make the children happy.”
The Jan. 3 party included music, winter crafts, gifts, food, tons of confetti, appearances by Father Christmas, Snow Girl and an Elf and songs by the children.
For Christmas, the kids – many of whom go to school at Anne Frank, MaST Charter and Philadelphia Academy Charter – were asked their wishes.
One girl was sad that her mom could not afford a phone so the youngster could call her dad in Ukraine. Faykin made the wish happen.
The outreach to the Ukrainian refugees also relies on volunteers such as the Marshall family, of Moorestown.
Nicole and Stephen and daughters Lia and Chloe, along with Lia’s boyfriend, Somerton’s Dimitrios Chatzikalfas, attended the party. The Marshalls, along with the NetCost in Leo Mall, teamed to donate cupcakes, candy, fruit, favor bags and crafts,
Nicole Marshall has a Ukrainian friend who knows KleinLife’s Ukraine-born president and CEO, Andre Krug, and that led to her volunteer work at KleinLife. Each week, she and Chloe visit to help the Ukrainian kids with art projects.
“It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Nicole said.
Nicole and Chloe cherish the hugs from the youngsters, and they brought wrapped presents for the kids in the art class.
“They’re like my little siblings, I’m here so often,” said Chloe, a 17-year-old junior at Moorestown Friends. “We bring each other so much joy.” ••
