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History > Famine 1921-1924 > Letters > February 9, 1922

Headline: ​Volga Relief Society

623 Lumbermen's Building, Portland, Oregon

Schuck, Russia (near Husaren and Kamenka)

To the gracious Mrs. Repp and all benefactors of the starving children in Russia: The representative of the North American Charitable Societies, your husband, Mr. Georg Repp, visited our colony of Schuck and left all of us, young and old, with grateful memories. By word and deed he made us who are afflicted by the famine in this year aware of the many noble minded people across the ocean in far off America. Many thanks! His message was happy news for us and lifted our spirits like someone wandering in the desert, near death from thirst, croaking out a last cry for help and having it answered. Arising after sorrow filled dark nights is a beautiful, cheer filled morning; the sun shines its bright and warming rays of hope into our hearts and brings us peace. The spirit draws a deep breath more easily, as in the spring when plants and flowers are aroused to new life by the refreshment of the thaw, many carry inside them a new hope for rescue, of the possibility of living on into the future. Our benefactors reach out their hands to us from America in order to rescue us and keep us from going under. Oh, how are we to repay then? Receive from the hearts of the children and the grief and worry filled hearts of their parents, most intimate thanks. We will never forget your generosity for as long as we live. An in case our gratitude is not enough, we close with the Word of God: "Whosoever shows pity to the poor has mad a loan unto the Lord, and He will repay them with interest."

Your forever grateful children of the colony of Schuck, their parents, and Father Adam Bellendir

Gracious Lady:

With his first appearance in our colony, the representative of the American Charitable Society, Mr. Georg Repp, was well received and gained the complete confidence of the people. After inquiring whether a Kitchen for hungry children was necessary, he immediately appointed an auxiliary commission with the duty of careful preparation and distribution of American alms. 400 children were to be taken care of. The community immediately sent 8 drivers to Schilling, 60 versts distant from us, to transport the gifts being held for us. Accordingly we received all the products and the Kitchen was immediately opened. All are extremely content. Everyone wants to be taken in by the American Kitchen. Also, even the largest of the children are completely satisfied with the portions given them. Thanks to all.

Faithfully,
Father Ad. Bellendir

Sources

Die Welt-Post, 9 Feb 1922.

​This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
Last updated March 6, 2016.
Copyright © 2002-2023 Steven H. Schreiber
  • Home
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    • Government
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    • A Land of Ethnic Diversity
    • Cottage Industries >
      • Sarpinka
      • Mills
    • Language
    • Population
    • Military Service
    • Crime and Punishment
  • History
    • Timeline
    • Origins of the Colonists
    • Catherine's Manifesto 1763
    • Why go to Russia?
    • Recruitment 1766
    • Planning 1764-1766
    • Marriages Prior To Emigration 1766
    • Voyage to Russia 1766 >
      • Ship Transport 1766
    • Journey 1766-1767
    • Founding of Norka 1767
    • Early Years 1767-1769
    • Norka 1769
    • Pallas Report 1773
    • Pugachev Raid 1774
    • Norka 1775
    • Norka 1798
    • Norka 1811
    • Napoleons Soldiers
    • Norka 1834
    • Daughter Colonies 1850s >
      • Neu-Norka
      • Oberdorf
      • Brunnental
      • Rosenfeld (am Jeruslan)
      • Neu Hussenbach (Gaschon)
    • Privileges Lost 1871-1874
    • Immigration 1875-1924 >
      • To the United States >
        • Colorado
        • Ft Collins Colorado
        • Globeville Colorado
        • Mason City, Iowa
        • Culbertson, Nebraska
        • Lincoln, Nebraska
        • Sutton, Nebraska
        • Burlington, Oklahoma
        • Weatherford, Oklahoma
        • Canby, Oregon
        • Portland, Oregon
      • To Canada >
        • Duffield, Alberta
        • Ponoka, Alberta
        • Spruce Grove, Alberta
        • Stony Plain, Alberta
        • Vegreville, Alberta
        • Arcola, Saskatchewan
      • To Germany
      • To South America
    • Famine 1891-1892
    • Norka 1898
    • War & Turnoil 1904-1906
    • World War 1914-1918
    • Revolution & War 1917-1922
    • Soviet Rule 1918-1941
    • Famine 1921-1924
    • Famine 1932-1933
    • The Great Terror 1936-1938
    • Deportation 1941
    • Repression 1941-1956
    • Cultural Loss 1957-2006
    • A Culture in Peril
    • Recent Times
  • Traditions
    • Food and Drink
    • Clothing
    • Holidays >
      • New Year
      • Fastnacht
      • Lent
      • Easter
      • Ascension Day
      • Pentecost
      • Founder's Day
      • Harvest Festival
      • Jahrmarkt
      • Christmas
      • Anniversaries & Birthdays
    • Crafts
    • Games
    • Folk Medicine
    • Superstitions
    • Nicknames
    • Folk Music
    • Church Music
    • Prayers
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • Communion
    • Weddings
    • Funerals and Burials
  • Religion
    • Planning and History >
      • Norka Reformed Church 1767-1864
      • 1909 Norka Parish Report
    • Pastors >
      • Johann Heinrich Fuchs
      • Johann Georg Herwig
      • Johannes Baptista Cattaneo
      • Lukas Cattaneo
      • Emanuel Grunauer
      • Friedrich Börner
      • Christian Gottlieb Hegele
      • Christoph H Bonwetsch
      • Gottlieb N Bonwetsch
      • Wilhelm Staerkel
      • Woldemar Sibbul
      • David Weigum
      • Friedrich Alexander Wacker
      • Emil Pfeiffer
    • Church Practices >
      • Parochial Certificates
    • Church Buildings
    • Church Organs
    • Bell Tower
    • Brethren Movement
  • Resources
    • Family Research
    • Research Resources >
      • Arrival Records 1766
      • Descendant Charts
      • German EWZ Records
      • Soviet Gulag Records
    • Maps
    • Glossary
    • Bibliography
    • Periodicals >
      • Die Welt-Post Letters
    • Related Links