Times Chronicle & Public Spirit
Peter Becker woodworkers make toy trucks for children of Ukraine
FRANCONIA » As Peter Becker Woodworkers’ Association member Bob Coble and others in the senior living community watched the television reports of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Coble recalls they were “feeling very deeply for what was happening to the Ukrainian people, and especially to the children.”
“I was struck by the fact that I need to do something with the God-given skills I have in woodworking,” Coble said.
Digging out a pattern for wooden toy trucks, Coble shared the idea with other Peter Becker woodworkers and residents who combined to make 50 of the toy trucks, each one of which had a Ukrainian flag on one side and a label on the bottom reading, “Made by the residents of the Peter Becker Community, Harleysville, PA (USA) for the children of Ukraine.”
“As you know, many of these children have lost parents, homes, and friends in the brutal war ongoing in Ukraine. Our effort was a small gesture to bring some joy to the hearts of these children,” the Peter Becker Community Woodworkers’ Association Newsletter for July said.
Woodworker Joe Bondi and his wife Rose contacted the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great in Jenkintown to arrange to have the trucks sent to Ukraine.
“Wood is the root of the earth because of the trees,” Sister Joann Sosler, one of the St. Basil nuns, said while picking up the toy trucks July 29.
The wooden toys are “such a gentle way of expressing love,” she said, especially to the Ukrainian children who are all familiar with the forested Carpathian Mountains, she said.
“For them, just to be able to have something such as this I think is very peaceful,” Sosler said.
Some of the toy trucks will likely be hand-delivered by St. Basil convent members, who continue to go to Ukraine, she said. Shipments of donated items also continue to be sent from St. Basil, she said.
The St. Basil auditorium is full again with donations after having sent out its most recent shipment to Ukraine in June. That one included 827 boxes of clothing and other items, Sosler said.
Asked for an update on the situation in Ukraine, Sosler said the bombing appears to be random.
“You just never know where it’s going to strike,” she said.
“It’s harder to get items such as food, clothing, of course,” Sosler said. “The soldiers are really suffering.”
Unable to do laundry, they have to instead throw away clothing that has been worn for a period and replace it with new clothes, she said.
“That’s why the continuous supply is very much appreciated,” Sosler said.
Donations are also being made to Ukrainian refugees who have come to this area, she said.
Peter Becker woodworkers and residents who contributed time and effort into making the trucks were Chet Bergey, Joe and Rose Bondi, Bob Coble, Mark de Porry, Al and Sue Elverson, Roy Feiss, Ron Foley, Jody Law, Jerry Lee, Jack Reese, Jim Rich, Bill Rose, and Larry Rush, the newsletter said.
“To have such a group of such talented and giving residents here is very overwhelming,” said Barbara Keller, Peter Becker vice president of marketing and sales.
The people of Ukraine have gone through a lot, Sosler said.
“They continuously pray and they have their faith in God,” she said. “No matter what they go through, it’s the faith in God that holds them through.”
She thanked the woodworkers for sharing with the children.
“They will know that it was with love and compassion that you made these things for them,” Sosler said.