Donations from WWII exhibit benefit Donora veterans groups

By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com

The “We Can Do It! WWII” exhibit has left Donora after its pandemic-induced extended visit, but the impact will continue to be felt in town.
The Donora Historical Society had high hopes for the traveling exhibit on loan from the Heinz History Center and accomplished them despite COVID-19 rearing its ugly head right in the middle of the group’s planned programming for the exhibit.
The society wanted to distribute donations from the exhibit’s entry collections to the borough’s veterans groups, the library where the exhibit was housed, the fire department and other longstanding Donora institutions. The society was able to make donations to six groups that totaled $2,800.
The society also hoped to promote history, of course, but especially Donora’s history.
The group made a special effort to create its own exhibit on the library’s main level and at the Smog Museum that used artifacts from Donora’s residents during World War II.
The members also wanted to bring arts and culture to the borough, which they accomplished through the opening night reception, which included live music and the “Taste of Donora.”
The “Taste of Donora” included donations of samples from borough restaurants and other food merchants including: Anthony’s Italiano, Early Bird Diner, Union Pharmacy Deli, The Station, Duke’s Cafe, Cindy’s Deli, Anna Lee’s and Marty’s Pizza.
As society volunteer Mark Pawelec said, the group was so happy to be able to pass along the generosity of those businesses to borough volunteer organizations.
Pawelec said the groups that received donations from the society were also impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and hampered by a lack of fundraising opportunities.
“We feel blessed that we can help them in their time of need,” Pawelec. “We think we were successful in accomplishing that mission. Won’t you please follow our lead by doing the same by supporting the Donora organizations of your choice?”
The groups that benefited from the donations are the Ernest E. Jobes American Legion Post 212, Donora Veterans Council, AP Delsandro Veterans Memorial, Ernest E. Jobes American Legion Auxiliary Unit 212, Donora Public Library and Donora Fire Department.

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