„Help Ukraine Breitscheid St. Lawrence Community e.V.“

When the air smells like tangerines and the lights on the Christmas tree twinkle like stars, it's time to create a Christmas and New Year's miracle. Light always conquers darkness, and the happy smiles of children and their parents fill the world with warmth. Such moments are a reminder of how important it is to support each other, especially in difficult times. So, on the eve of St. Nicholas Day, our team delivered more than 400 New Year's gifts to the Rotary Club in Lutsk, which were handed over to children of university students, internally displaced and large families, and children of fallen heroes during the holiday. Special thanks to our magicians: “Help Ukraine Breitscheid St. Lawrence Community e.V.” and its head, Rotarian of the club, Professor, Honorary Dr. Heinrich Benner and the organization's coordinator in Ukraine, Mr. Vasyl Petruk, who gave the children such welcome surprises, as well as Professor of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University Natalia Pavlikha, who organized a wonderful children's celebration.

New Year's holiday miracle. Rotary Club Volyn Pride, Lutsk, Volyn region.

In 2024, our “Help Ukraine Breitscheid St. Lawrence Community e.V.” has got new progressive and dedicated partners, namely the team of the “Hope Youth Initiative Charitable Foundation”. The close-knit volunteer team makes every effort to deliver the most necessary humanitarian aid to the hottest spots on the frontline, where the local population, who for some reason cannot leave the frontline towns and villages, needs our help. The most essential food, hygiene products, medicines and medical equipment, as well as generators are regularly delivered from our transit warehouse in Rzeszów to each of the most remote towns near the contact line. About 15% of these shipments are regularly transferred to the units of our defenders to ensure a safe route for the delivery of our goods to the hottest spots on the frontline. We are grateful to all the volunteers of the “Hope” Charity Foundation for their fruitful cooperation and active social position.

New partners from the “Hope Youth Initiative Charitable Foundation” are increasing the pace and scope of cooperation.

In a distant 1992, our charity organization began its cooperation with Ukraine, namely with the small village of Pidkamin in the Lviv region and the special school of I-III levels with in-depth vocational training for children with hearing disabilities under the leadership of the permanent director Bohdan Ukrainets. In 2008, this fruitful cooperation was joined by the Pidkaminsky psychoneurological boarding center, with which our organization continues to work successfully to this day thanks to director Michael Chumak. We have come a long way together and provided great help in the reconstruction of both social institutions by modernizing them and equipping them with new, modern equipment and furniture. On the eve of 2025, another delivery of food, emergency generators for an uninterrupted power and heat supply and more than 300 Christmas gifts for the inmates of the two organizations, who look forward to the New Year's miracle every year, took place. The team of magicians from the “Help Ukraine Breitscheid St. Lawrence Community e.V.”  and Professor Dr. h.c. Heinrich Benner are always there for the inmates despite the difficult times of war and make the dreams of those in need come true.

More than 33 years of cooperation with a boarding school and a psychoneurological center in the village of Pidkamin, Lviv region.

For more than 20 years, the “Help Ukraine Breitscheid St. Lawrence Community e.V.” and ist   head - Professor Dr. h.c. Heinrich Benner have been working successfully with the partner city Brody in the Lviv region and the community leader Anatolii Beley. Since then, many important social projects have been implemented, such as the operation of a charitable soup kitchen for the needy, the restoration of the infrastructure and grounds of the castle park in Brody, the purchase of waste garbage cans, the delivery of a waste compactor and much more. At the end of 2024, the municipality of Brody again received a valuable delivery from the German partners, namely more than 500 New Year's gifts for children of war veterans, children of fallen soldiers, low-income and large families and internally displaced persons. Some of the gifts were also distributed in the charitable “St. Lawrence canteen”, where more than 50 children in the above-mentioned categories and more than 100 needy adults are fed and receive their hot meals every day. In addition, the German community regularly provides the community of Brody and the city with the necessary medical equipment, medicines, emergency generators, food, clothing and equipment for fire and rescue teams. About 15% of these shipments are regularly transferred to the units of our defenders to ensure a safe route for the delivery of our goods to the hottest spots on the frontline. Further new projects in the community of Brody are planned and developed for the new year 2025.

Continued long-term cooperation with the city of Brody, Lviv region.

Following the long-standing tradition and cooperation with the Charitable Foundation “Mother of God tireless Help”, under the leadership of Father Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Mykola Hynailo, the team of the German association “Help Ukraine Breitscheid St. Lawrence Community e.V.” led by the head, Professor, Honorary Dr. Heinrich Benner delivered in December 2024 about 500 New Year's gifts to the community of Volodymyr, Volyn region. They also delivered 40 new gasoline generators for social organizations and soldiers, as well as more than 5 tons of long-life food, clothing for the needy, equipment for rescue services, and furniture for the Volodymyr Lyceum. About 15% of these shipments are regularly transferred to the units of our defenders to ensure a safe route for the delivery of our goods to the hottest spots on the frontline.  

Gifts for children, generators for social organizations and the military, 
Cooperation with the Charitable Foundation “Mother of God tireless Help”, Volodymyr, Volyn region.

We continue our work to support the defenders of Ukraine on behalf of the cooperation with

“Help Ukraine Breitscheid St. Lawrence Association e.V.” with the assistance and significant

participation of the Humanitarian Headquarters of Kyiv, for which special thanks to Deputy

Chairman of Kyiv City Council, Mr. Valentyn Mondyivskyi.

This time, the fighters of the Third Separate Assault Brigade and the 19 th Separate Rifle

Battalion of the 60 th Brigade received sets of tools, household chemicals, personal hygiene

In addition, the 169 th Training Center “Desna” received 8 new gasoline generators, and the next

5 generators received the 19 th Separate Rifle Battalion of the 60 th Brigade.

Therefore, in the person of Professor Dr. Heinrich Benner, we sincerely thank all Germans who

help Ukraine at that difficult time, as well as good people from his Foundation. In particular

Vasyl Petruk – coordinator and official representative of the Association in Ukraine, Ihor Kotsan

– Professor of the Krakow Mining and Metallurgical Academy “AGH”, official representative of

the Association and coordinator of the organization’s activities in Poland. Mr. Mykola

Palamarchuk – partner of the Association in Ukraine. Logistics manager in Poland – Mr. Viktor

Maksymiv. Media coordinator in Poland – Mr. Volodymyr Pavlik. Media coordinator in Ukraine

And we also thank Mr. Dmytor Rakhmatulin – assistant of the Kyiv mayor and Ksyusha Lytvyn –

Humanitarian Headquarters of Kyiv for the help and assistance provided by the delivery of the

Special thanks for the cooperation and assistance to Alyona Shevtsova – adviser of the Ground

Forces Command of the armed Forces of Ukraine.

The implementation of a large program of cooperation continues, so we hope for further

fruitful work on the front if humanitarian aid for Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine!

Ukrainian defenders received the next aid from German benefactors.

While some official structures slow down the process of providing assistance to Ukraine, the public

sector, in particular the German association “Help Ukraine Breitscheid St. Lawrence

Association e.V.” increases the volume and pace of delivery of humanitarian goods.

The next Breitscheid – Rzeszow/Poland car convoy was led by the head of the

Foundation, Professor Dr. Heinrich Benner – personally driving a 20-ton “Mercedes”!

According to the plan, the coordinators of the Association in Poland and Ukraine – Ihor

Kotsan and Vasyl Petruk met the five trucks and one bus in Rzeszow. And the coordinator

of the logistics platform in Rzeszow, Viktor Maksymiv, led the convoy to the organized

additional warehouse for unloading of the delivered cargoes.

The representatives of Kyiv and region – Mr. Mykola Palamarchuk and Yuriy Lisnychiy also joined

the partnership, who came to agree positions on cooperation.

Soon, basic necessities, food, medical equipment and hygiene products, gasoline generators will

be distributed and sent to Ukrainian defenders and civilian organizations that support the life of

All coordinators were presented with cards certifying the international volunteer mission,

including media coordinator Olexander Kolomiets.

Since the beginning of the big war in Ukraine, the German Association provided above 2050 tons

of humanitarian aid and continues further work.

The article was prepared by Volodymyr Pavlik.

“Help Ukraine Breitscheid St. Lawrence Association e.V.” increases the volumes
and pace of delivery of humanitarian goods.

This was announced by the Deputy Chairman of the Kyiv City Council, Mr. Valentyn Mondryivskyi.

“We received more than 3.000 pairs of shoes from our German partners. We will send the main

part to Kyiv residents who are serving in the Armed Forces, and the rest will be given to utility

workers who work at critical infrastructure facilities in the Ukrainian capital,” he said.

The capital city received shoes for the “Help Ukraine Breitscheid St. Lawrence Association e.V.”

from Germany, for which great thanks were expressed to the head of the Association, Professor

The representatives of the “Help Ukraine Breitscheid St. Lawrence Association e.V.” in Ukraine,

Mr. Vasyl Petruk, Mykola Palamarchuk and Yuriy Lisnychyi were present at the humanitarian aid

On behalf of the “Help Ukraine Breitscheid St. Lawrence Association e.V.”, we express our

gratitude to Alyona Shevtsova, adviser to the Ground Forces Command of the Ukrainian Armed

Forces, fo establishing of constructive cooperation with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as to

the Deputy Head of the Kyiv City Council, Mr. Valentyn Mondyivskyi and the assistant of the Kyiv

The Humanitarian Headquarter of Kyiv received more than 3.000 pairs of shoes from German
partners. The aid is intended for the military and employees of the city’s communal services.

Thanks to active support of the head of Kyiv regional council Mr. Yaroslav Dobriansky, together

with Coordinator Mr. Vasyl Petruk, Mr. Mykola Palamarchuk, Professor Igor Kotsan, Viktor

Maksymiv, Volodymyr Pavlik, thanking to Mr. Volodymyr Tymofiychuk and Yaroslav

Yaroshovets, the Kyiv Regional Council together with the public institution “base of Special

Medical Supply” and the “Help Ukraine Breitscheid St. Lawrence Association e.V.” concluded a

Memorandum of Cooperation. The subject of the memorandum is provision of charitable

humanitarian aid for the needs of medical institutions and needy residents of Kyiv region.

And now, the first stage of cooperation has begun, in the framework of which a significant

number of sanitizers, antiseptic and personal protective equipment were delivered to the

needs of medical institutions of the Kyiv region by German benefactors.

Many thanks to the German people and personally to the head of the “Help Ukraine Breitscheid

St. Lawrence Association e.V.”, Professor Dr. Heinrich Benner, for his great humanitarian work

There is a lot of work ahead! Together we will win!!!

A memorandum on cooperation with the Kyiv Regional Council was signed and a truck of
humanitarian aid was delivered for medical facilities in the Kyiv region.

Cooperation with the German charitable Association “Help Ukraine Breitscheid named after St. Lawrence e.V.” and its head, Professor, Dr. Heinrich Benner, and the Humanitarian Headquarters of Kyiv, represented by the Deputy Chairman of the Kyiv City Administration Valentyn Mondyivskyi, regarding the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Kyiv community and the Armed Forces of Ukraine is successfully continued.

“This time, 3360 pairs of specialized reinforced shoes, 20 gasoline generators, 3240 liters of hand sanitizer, 250 liters of disinfectant for the surfaces and over 10 000 protective face masks were delivered to Kyiv as humanitarian aid on behalf of the German people”, - said the message.

The author expresses his gratitude to all Germans who help Ukraine, as well as good people from the Association team, in particular Mr. Vasyl Petruk – coordinator and authorized agent of the Association in Ukraine, Ihor Kotsan – professor of the Krakow Metallurgical Academy AGH, official representative of the Association and coordinator in Poland, Mykola Palamarchuk – partner of the organization in Ukraine, Viktor Maksymiv – Manager in Poland. 

In addition, the gratitude to the assistant of the Kyiv city mayor, Mr. Dmytro Rakhmatulin for the delivery of the humanitarian goods to Kyiv, Ksysha Lytvyn – Humanitarian Headquarter of the city Kyiv. Special thanks to Alyona Shevtsova, adviser of the Ground Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

The German charitable association continues to help the Kyiv community and Armed Forces of Ukraine.

„Many thanks to the charitable Association “Help Ukraine Breitscheid named after St. Lawrence e.V.” and its long-term head, Professor, Dr. Heinrich Benner, for the help delivered for the 3-rd separate assault brigade, as well as for the Humanitarian Headquarter of the city Kyiv and the communities of the city Browary and its district in the region Kyiv.” – noted journalist and volunteer Yuriy Lisnychyi.

This time, a total of 30 gasoline emergency generators, 1 ton of long-term storage products, 150 pairs of special reinforced shoes and 8 gas stoves were delivered to Ukraine in the form of humanitarian aid in behalf of the German people.

Since the beginning of its work in 1992, the charitable Association “Help Ukraine Breitscheid named after St. Lawrence e.V.” thanks to its head, Professor, Dr. Heinrich Benner and to the whole team, has delivered more than 14.000 tons of humanitarian goods to Ukraine.

And only since the beginning of the full Russian invasion, about 2.000 tons of the most necessary goods have been received by Ukrainian hospitals, urban and rural communities, victims of the war and forcibly displaced persons, homes for the disabled and persons with mental illnesses, children’s preschool and educational institutions, boarding schools for disabled children and partly for military units of Ukraine.

Therefore, in the person of Professor Dr. Heinrich Benner, we sincerely thank all the Germans who help Ukraine, as well as good people from the Association, in particular Mr. Vasyl Petruk – coordinator and authorized agent of the Association in Ukraine, Ihor Kotsan – professor of the Krakow Metallurgical Academy AGH, official representative of the Association and coordinator in Poland, Mykola Palamarchuk – partner of the organization in Ukraine, Viktor Maksymiv – Manager in Poland.

And also, many thanks for the assistance in the delivery of the humanitarian goods to Ukraine to Mr. Valentyn Mondryivskyi - Deputy head of the Kyiv City Administration. Assistant of the Kyiv city mayor, Mr. Dmytro Rakhmatulin - Department of Transport of Kyiv City Administration, Ksysha Lytvyn – Humanitarian Headquarter of the city Kyiv. Volodymyr Maibozhenko – Head of the regional Administration of Browary district, Oleksiy Doroshenko – first deputy head of the regional Administration of Browary district. Ihor Sapozhko – mayor of the city Browary. Yana Ivasiuk – head of the charitable foundation United24 Browary.  Alyona Shevtsova, adviser of the Ground Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

A large program of cooperation is planned ahead, so we hope for further work an the front of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine!