With the fall of communism the Order swung into action and in the first five critical years of Polands new found freedom the Order provided financial aid to Poland which was out of all proportion to the size of its' membership. Funds were raised and distributed through the Saint Stanislas Foundation to Parish Priests in Poland for allocation to the needy. Weekly shipments of ex. US Army medical supplies were distributed to hospitals and rural medical clinics.

Educational materials from the many schools and libraries of the closed military bases in Germany were sent to Poland to assist in education programs. A medical sponsorship program was begun at the Medical University of South Carolina (the first student being Doctor Dorota Kopanska from the Warsaw University), this program was arranged by Doctor J. Richard Sosnowski GCStS, Dean Emeritus of the Medical University of South Carolina. In 1994, with the assistance of General William C. Westmoreland GCStS, Lieutenant General George Seignious GCStS, and Colonel James Leach GCStS the American Grand Priory of the Order of Saint Stanislas delivered to Poland 35 surplus military ambulances and a large quantity of medical equipment to the Polish Government. Since then the Order has sent aid on a monthly basis to Poland, normally in sealed containers and of a medical nature such as wheelchairs, crutches, bandages and the like; has now become involved in sending aid into other parts of impoverished Eastern Europe.

I have often been asked by people who are aware that I am a Companion of the Order of Saint Stanislas, questions such as "What is the Order of Saint Stanislas?" and "What does the Order of Saint Stanislas do?".

The short answer to such questions is that the Order of Saint Stanislas is a highly organised body of men and women, many with a Polish connection (in my own case, I am descended from the ancient Polish nobility through my maternal grand- parents), who support and assist, in the raising of charity of various kinds for the poor and disadvantaged in Poland and Eastern Europe.

On occassions the Orders intentions have been challenged by various self proclaimed chivalry 'experts', and the good works of the Order have been down played in vengeful attacks aimed at the current Grand Master in general, and the Order in particular.

Assistance was given to Poland via various intermediaries, including the Very Reverend Father Bernard Witucki, who was a Minister in the Government (In Exile).  Father Witucki was is a household name in Poland as he was a highly decorated Polish hero of WWII, and a General in the Polish Army.

Assistance was sent to Poland as money or medical packages which, due to the situation in the country were sent not to Government agencies, but to trusted Parish Priests who then distributed these items to the needy. At that time money was being sent via the Fregata-PKO bank and medical supplies via Grabowski Export/Import of London. In 1993, the Order sent 16 medical parcels to Poland valued at $750.00 US; gifts of cash to Parish Priests $1213.07; gifts to needy Polish families $2504.34; gifts to Polish charitable institutions $3381.06; gifts to hospices $550.00US; total of charity sent in 1993 amounted to $8398.47US.

1994

General William C. Westmoreland GCStS, Lieutenant General George M. Segnious GCStS, and Colonel James Leach GCStS arranged on the Orders behalf to send 35 surplus military ambulances, plus spare parts to be sent to Poland. Colonel Wieslaw Nowicki GCStS produces the "Saint Stanislas" stamps which raise funds which are used to support various Polish charities. Members of the Order who are in the US Military in Germany arrange for all books and stationary from the US schools closing in Germany to be sent to Poland.

The Canadian Grand Priory establishes the '"Clothe the Children" project sending container loads of good used clothing from Canada into Poland.

Chevalier Dr J. Richard Sosnowski GCStS, Dean Emeritus of the Medical University of South Carolina arranged for a Polish Doctor to be sponsored by the Order to study at the university of South Carolina. The first doctor chosen to take part in this sponsorship was Dr Dorota Kopanska of Warsaw University.

Chevalier Jeffrey S. Parker GCStS assists at the Foundation for Gifted Sitka Children on Baranof Island, Alaska. The Foundation offers children an environment outside of the typical classroom setting in which to learn about computers, telecommunications, creative thinking and critical skills. The Grand Priory of New Zealand donates $200 US to assist with the publication of the book 'Nobility of the Polish Commonwealth' which is published by the Polish Nobility Association in the United States.

The 'Stamps for Vets' project is established by Chevalier Ed Milligan GCStS.

Grants and gifts sent to Poland by the Saint Stanislas Foundation in 1995, total $16,628.00 US (as stated on IRS form 990-EZ, FIN:59-314882).

The Priory of South Carolina establishes 'Operation Wheelchair', an ongoing project which collects manually operated wheelchairs, walkers, canes crutches, mechanical beds and similar supplies for shipment through the port of Charleston to Gdansk in Poland. The Polish Ministry of Health co-operates with this project and distributes all items where they are most needed.

Other ongoing charitable good works in brief include assistance to: *The Dunajow Appeal *The Florida Medical Mission *Assistance to the Home Army Medical Clinic in Warsaw *The Medical University in Warsaw *The Kosicucko Foundation Scholarships *The Pulaski Monument Restoration Foundation *The Polish Medical Doctor Exchange Program *The Countess Avril Christmas appeal (Crippled Children) *Clothe the Children *Clarendon Memorial Hospital Charity Clinic.

The Scandinavian Grand Priory of the Order raises $200 US per Companion which is used to publish a book for the Polish Association of Amnesty International which illustrates the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

Polish Flood Assistance: The Saint Stanislas Foundation sends $1500.00 US to various agencies in Poland to assist with flood relief. A container of medical supplies is sent with 25,000 pounds of items consisting of pieces of an emergency hospital (portable operating tables, suction equipment, surgical instruments, an autoclave, stretchers and other similar equipment).

"Operation Wheelchair" sends 42 beds, 10 wheelchairs, 5 walkers, 3 potty chairs, a stretcher and 20 boxes of medical supplies to Poland.

The Grand Priory of England donates 632.60 English Pounds Sterling to the Sue Ryder Foundation in Poland.

"Operation Farmyard" this ongoing project was started by Colonel Wieslaw Nowicki GCStS and involves the purchase of actual farm animals in Poland and the Ukraine for needy farmers, funds are raised in the UK and then taken as 'hard currency' into Poland where actual farm animals are purchased for needy farmers.

The Saint Stanislas Foundation sends $11,071.00 US in aid to Poland (IRS form 990 E-Z). *Countess Avril Appeal (Amnesty International).
 

The Scandiavian Grand Priory gifted two computers to the Amnesty International Office in Gdansk in Poland, these gifts are currently in service in the Amnesty International office in Slovakia. Baron Reisky de Dubnic, Grand Prior of Bohemia donates $1000.00 US to the local hospice at Vilemov in the Czech Republic. Chevalier Stephen Hensley develops the ongoing "Computers for Freedom" project, the address for which is: http://www.geocities.com/heartland/fields/7532 The Saint Stanislas Foundation sends eight shipments of medical supplies, with 110 metric tons of equiptment and a value of $2,175,000.00 US to Poland and also the Ukraine.

"The Chernobyl Kids" project. (all other projects have yet to be realised in the annual accounts of the Order and its' Foundation).

These are some, but by no means all of the good works that have been successfully undertaken by the Companions of the Order of Saint Stanislas. All of the above can easily be verified by contacting any of the above named institutions and making an enquiry. For more information on the good works of the Order of Saint Stanislas, or if you might wish to contribute donations, medical supplies or other items please feel free to contact the Order by writing to: