A Lithuanian Club Is Born

Aldona Miller Kelly is a member of the very active American-Lithuanian Club in Whiting, New Jersey.

Ed and Mary Pribush were pleased with their retirement home in Whiting, New Jersey, but they missed their Lithuanian friends from their former home in Linden, New Jersey. The solution was to form a club, and so they invited nine people to their home in October 1984 to discuss it. A notice was placed in local papers, and eventually forty people came together to form what is now known as the “American-Lithuanian Club, Inc.”

We found quarters in the Hilltop Club House, where we have monthly meetings, ending in coffee and tasty baked goods that are donated by our members. We always have suris (Lithuanian cheese) and occasionally midus (Lithuanian mead) from Lithuania. It is kind of a no-no, but a tiny sip evokes a "sveiks" ("to your health").

Now, to get serious about our activities and goals. Thanks to the foresight of the original members, Ed and Mary Pribush, Frank and Stella Pelan, John and Mildred Deldon, Frank and Dorothy Grinchis, Antoinette Licata, Mary Kulis, and Madeline Petkus (remember that name), we have a club to be proud of.

We changed from just a social club when we received a phone call from Deborah Heart and Lung Hospital, informing us that a little girl from Lithuania, named Miglė, was there for heart surgery. Through Madeline and George Petkus, we were kept informed of her progress. Deborah does not charge for their services, so our contribution to her was warm winter clothing. We have been so delighted to hear that little Miglė is now grown and well. From that first involvement, we became fully committed to many Lithuanian causes.

A strong willed, delightfully ruthless activities' chairlady named Madeline Petkus finds means to use our limited funds in the most rewarding ways. Money is raised through trips, dinners, 50/50s and individual contributions. Here is a condensed version of some accomplishments:

We are especially fond of the orphans and have aided in their many medical, educational, and clothing needs.

Funds are sent to churches and religious orders.

Drugs and toiletries are given to a home for the elderly.

Large shipments of medical journals to the universities, including nursing and pediatric magazines, are collected.

Money donated toward a shipment of computers to a high school.

Each year we all participate in a clothing and household articles drive, which we also helps to defray shipping costs.

Members knitted 200 caps for wayside children.

Participated in Lithuanian Mercy Lift.

Donated to a Blind school toward the purchase of a van.

Gave toward the Šarunas Childrens’ Fund.

Provided warm winter jackets for two blind boys.

Donated to Deborah Hospital for their surgery on other Lithuanian children, for having Lithuanian doctors here to learn more about heart treatment. This in turn led to sending 30 doctors to Lithuania to perform surgery and hold a symposium.

Madeline, on her own, collected $2,000 to have a hospital room renovated. What a treasure she is!

She also received 25 blankets free for the hospital.

Donated local library subscriptions of “Lithuanian Heritage” and “Balfas”

Some members support A.P.P.L.E.

There is more, and our members make it all possible as well. They are a great group, starting with the officers, the refreshment couple, the Lithuanian Liberation Day organizers, and flag raising arrangers. We have Christmas dinners and picnics. All help to make them a success. Our oldest member, Veronica Dugan, was honored with a mass on her 100^th birthday, a very special occasion for all.

We plan to carry on in the same manner. We do it to honor our parents and their families now living in Lithuania and to help their homeland recover from oppression. It would be very interesting to hear about other clubs in the United States. u