Ukraine Concert Checks Presented By Point Beach Mayor

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — Checks totaling nearly $200,000 have been presented to two organizations working to help Ukrainian refugees, the proceeds from the Point Beach Cares: Concert for Ukraine earlier this year.

Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Paul Kanitra said he personally delivered the checks to World Central Kitchen and to Caritas Internationalis, which have been working in Poland assisting women and children who have fled the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Poland has received the bulk of the Ukrainian refugees since the invasion in late February.

Kanitra said $100,000 went to World Central Kitchen and $92,000 to Caritas Internationalis.

The sold-out concert saw more than 1,400 people fill Jenkinson's Club on the boardwalk to listen to the Ukrainian Chorus of Dumka of New York, Bobby Bandiera and Friends, Joe Bonanno and the Godsons, Green Secret, and solo acts Ed Testa, and Steve Forbert.

World Central Kitchen was providing hot meals to refugees right after they crossed the border following days of walking to escape the fighting.

"It cost roughly $1 per meal, and for many it was the first hot meal they had had in days," Kanitra said during the concert.

"Caritas was everywhere I was in Poland," he said. "I got to meet their staff and volunteers and see their work first-hand. We set up next to them to hand out our supplies at Przemysl.

"They were at the borders and the train stations, too," Kantra said. "But most importantly they were helping to get the orphans out of Ukraine and resettle them."

"These donations will provide over a hundred thousand meals for Ukrainian refugees who are desperately hungry. It will help support and safeguard so many orphans and children needlessly effected by this horrible war," Kanitra said in an update on the donations.

"You all have made an incredible difference in the world and should be so freaking proud. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for stepping up like this. WE DID IT!!!!!" he wrote.

See some of the experiences he documented on his trip to Poland to help the refugees: Point Beach Mayor Documents Heartwrenching Ukrainian Refugee Work