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RC man visits Poland to help Ukraine; continues efforts upon return

Locals can donate to One Box for Ukraine

By Darby Hinkley 6 min read

ROGERS CITY -- He felt a calling one night while watching the news, so Boyd Byelich started making plans to go overseas to help Ukrainian War refugees.

The Rogers City man spent the last two weeks of April in Krakow, Poland, helping at a donation and distribution center and serving meals to displaced Ukrainian residents.

"I never planned to go to Poland in my life," he said. "It wasn't on my bucket list."

He had some health issues leading up to Christmas, but his health started to improve after the holiday. Since he was feeling better, Byelich decided God must have a mission for him. So he kept his ears and heart open as his health improved into January, then February.

"All right, God, you must have a mission in mind," Byelich recalled saying. "There's some reason that I'm getting better."

He heard the call in early March.

"About a week after the war broke out over there, one morning I was just sitting right here in this chair, and I felt this compelling force," he said. "I felt I needed to somehow help the Ukrainian refugees."

He worked on finding a reputable place to volunteer, and he found one in Krakow. About 1,100 people came to the clothing distribution center daily, and about 9,000 items were distributed each day. Every day, about 70 volunteers from all over Europe and the world showed up at the clothing center. The umbrella organization for the charity he worked with is called Internationaler Bund.

"For me, it was the most meaningful two weeks of my life," Byelich said of the trip. "Just to see all the volunteers come. The harmony there was like nothing I've ever experienced."

Upon returning to the U.S., he wanted to continue the mission of helping the Ukrainians, so he started a donation project called One Box for Ukraine. The project allows local residents to donate clothing or money for shipping to a reputable local charity rather than sending their donation to an unfamiliar organization. Byelich is working on applying for nonprofit status, as well.

The Rogers City Area Zonta Club will host a public presentation by Byelich on his One Box for Ukraine project benefitting Ukraine War refugees at 7 p.m. tonight. The free presentation will be held at the Lighthouse Restaurant located at 377 N. Third Street in Rogers City.

"When I was over in Poland, at both the World Central Kitchen and at the clothing distribution center, I never heard the word 'refugee' mentioned," Byelich recalled. "It was always 'beneficiary.' And that was, I believe, out of respect for the Ukrainian people."

He said when the beneficiaries came to the clothing distribution center, they were able to take as many articles of clothing as they wanted, but shoes and undergarments were limited per person because of high demand. The distribution center is set up like a department store, Byelich said.

Because he was there during Easter weekend, Byelich said he volunteered with World Central Kitchen for four days while the distribution center was closed.

Byelich has been "blown away" by the generosity of the Northeast Michigan community.

Before officially starting One Box for Ukraine, Byelich and a friend were chatting over a meal at John Boy's Restaurant in Alpena. He said that, since his voice carries, several people at tables around him heard what they were talking about and came over and handed him money to donate to the project.

"That's where all the generosity here started," Byelich said. "It just blew me away. Because I'm not sure I would've -- if I was sitting there and I heard that -- I don't know if I would have gotten up and got 50 bucks out" to donate to a stranger's cause.

He has been doing presentations around Rogers City, Alpena, and Harrisville, where he grew up. His family owns Byelich Family Farm in Harrisville, where he works on the weekends. His day job is with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And now his side gig is One Box for Ukraine. Although it pays nothing monetarily, he said it's the best job he's ever had.

He tears up when he thinks of all the need out there, as well as the generosity here. He noted that being able to give local people the opportunity to be a part of an outreach program without having to travel overseas is a calling he felt compelled to answer.

At age 58, Byelich wants to inspire people of all ages to volunteer and make a difference in the world.

"Anyone can help," he said.

He hooked up with a Polish travel agency in Troy, a suburb of Detroit, where he takes a carload of boxes every other week. The agency then ships them to Krakow, Poland, right to the same distribution center at which he volunteered. It costs $50 to ship one box.

"I bet there were people out there, just like me, who wanted to do something, but just didn't trust those big organizations … that very much of my donation would actually get down to the people that needed it," he said.

Donations of gently used clothing, especially summer clothes right now, can be dropped off at Byelich's house at 645 S. Lake St., Rogers City. Donations of new underwear and socks are also being accepted. If he is not home, the front porch door is open and donations can be left there.

If you have questions, call Byelich at 307-286-4807. You can also donate to One Box for Ukraine online at gofund.me/4c99a7ad. For more information and updates, visit the Facebook group One Box for Ukraine. Byelich's daughter Brooke helped him set up the Facebook group and GoFundMe page.

Byelich hopes to return to Poland in August.

He added that while in Poland, he never felt in danger, and that the Polish people did not seem scared, either.

"They're just living their lives," he said.

He forged relationships with both volunteers and refugees.

"It was an awesome way to interact directly with the Ukrainian people that were there," Byelich said. "I got to know many of them."

He keeps in contact with some of them, and he said that the war is far from over. He is in contact with some Ukrainians who have returned to Kyiv, but they are on edge day and night, hearing explosions from Russian missiles, and wondering where the next one will land.

"It keeps everybody uneasy as heck, but that's why (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's doing that stuff," Byelich said. "He's just terrorizing the people there."

Byelich will continue to help for as long as help is needed.

"I don't think this is going to end anytime soon," Byelich said.

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