A SPECIAL SHIPMENT OF GIFT FROM CANADA BRINGS JOY TO CHILDREN ACROSS SERBIA

Oct 7

Lifeline Chicago helps give thousands of donated items from Marineland in Niagara Falls a new purpose—bringing comfort and joy to children and families in need.

October 7, 2026 — Lifeline Humanitarian Organization of Chicago is proud to have helped facilitate a major humanitarian donation from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Canada, now received in Serbia by the HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation.

This special shipment from Canada is separate from Lifeline Chicago’s annual Christmas container, which our volunteers are currently completing and preparing to send from Chicago in the coming days. Each year, that beloved Lifeline tradition brings Christmas gifts and much-needed items to children and institutions throughout Serbia. The Marineland donation represents an additional humanitarian effort—and another wonderful opportunity to reach even more children and families in need.

The Marineland donation came about through the initiative of Michael Gruyich, whose strong connection to Serbia and desire to help children inspired him to approach Marineland about donating its remaining merchandise rather than allowing these items to go unused.

Through his efforts, and with the support of Lifeline Chicago, an extraordinary collection of merchandise was given a new and meaningful purpose: bringing happiness to children who may have very little of their own.

The shipment includes stuffed animals, children’s clothing, backpacks, school supplies, hats, socks, towels, cups and other children’s items. The HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation will carefully sort and distribute the donation according to the needs of social welfare institutions and vulnerable families throughout Serbia.

Recipients will include children living in orphanages and residential care facilities, children with disabilities, families facing hardship, and women and children being cared for in shelters. Some of the larger stuffed animals will also be reserved for special Christmas and Easter celebrations, when they can become memorable gifts for individual children.

HRH Crown Princess Katherine expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped make the donation possible:

“There is something deeply beautiful in the simple act of giving. When people come together with goodwill and understand the joy that a gift can bring to a child, even an item that might otherwise have been left unused can become something very special.
We are deeply grateful to Michael Gruyich, to Marineland, and to the Lifeline Chicago Board members who helped make this shipment possible. These gifts will bring smiles, comfort and happiness to children who deserve to know that people care about them.”

For more than three decades, Lifeline Humanitarian Organization has worked to improve the lives of children, families and vulnerable individuals throughout Serbia and Republika Srpska. Through the generosity of donors, volunteers and partners, Lifeline continues to provide critical assistance to children’s homes, hospitals, shelters, schools and other institutions in need.

The Marineland donation is a beautiful example of what can happen when one person recognizes an opportunity to help, others join in, and generosity crosses borders. What might have simply been left behind in Canada will now become a source of comfort, excitement and joy for children thousands of miles away.