Daughters of Lithuania LA members Tanya and Tara Barauskaite visited two of the locations we support – Angelu Palepe and Paparciu namai. At Angelu Palepe it was wonderful to hear about how our funding helps the kids go on field trips to the beach and other places they normally wouldn’t go to. DOL brought them games and art kits, which they love! At Paparciu namai the sisters met with Rūta Kanclerytė, who runs the Paparčių namai for orphaned and special needs teenagers, and is doing God’s work helping them lead more stable lives. We are so glad to support these two important organizations!

„Lietuvos dukterų LA“ narės Tanja ir Tara Barauskaitės aplankė dvi mūsų remiamas vietas – Angelų palėpę ir Paparčių namus. Angelų palėpėje buvo nuostabu išgirsti, kaip mūsų finansavimas padeda vaikams vykti į ekskursijas į paplūdimį ir kitas vietas, į kurias jie paprastai nelankytų. DOL jiems atnešė žaidimų ir dailės rinkinių, kuriuos jie labai mėgsta! Paparčių namuose seserys susitiko su Rūta Kancleryte, kuri vadovauja Paparčių namams našlaičiams ir specialiųjų poreikių turintiems paaugliams ir atlieka Dievo darbą, padėdama jiems gyventi stabilesnį gyvenimą. Džiaugiamės galėdami paremti šias dvi svarbias organizacijas!

Daughters of Lithuania LA sponsored the”Dream Boldly” mural for the Mothers and Childrens Home. Sharing a message from the creator, artist and muralist, Rolandas Dabrukas:

Creating this mural for the Mother and Child Home in Vilnius, Lithuania, was much more than painting a wall for me. It became a journey into a world where dreams can fly, oceans have no boundaries, and even the impossible can become possible.

At the heart of the mural, a boy and a girl travel through the sky on the back of a great blue whale. The whale symbolizes strength, protection, wisdom, and the courage to travel into the unknown. It carries the children above the waves, reminding us that sometimes we simply need to trust—to believe that life can take us somewhere beautiful, even when we cannot yet see where we are going.

The ocean represents life itself: deep, mysterious, sometimes calm and sometimes full of waves. Just like our emotions, it is always moving. Yet beyond every wave there is another horizon waiting for us.

The little paper boats are especially meaningful to me. They are fragile and simple, yet they still dare to sail. To me, they represent our childhood dreams—the small wishes we fold inside our hearts and send out into the world. We may not always know where they will travel, but when we give them hope, courage, love, and patience, they can carry us farther than we ever imagined.

The hot-air balloons symbolize freedom, possibility, and rising above the things that hold us down. They remind us to look at life from a different perspective, to stay curious, and to never be afraid of dreaming bigger.

And the children looking toward the sky represent the most important message of this mural: your story is still being written. There is always another horizon, another adventure, another dream waiting for you.

The Lithuanian words painted on the wall say:

“Dream boldly, believe in yourself, and let your dreams lift you to the place where miracles begin.”

I am deeply grateful to Lietuvos Dukterys LA – Daughters of Lithuania LA for helping make this dream possible. Thank you for believing in this project, for supporting my journey, and for helping me fly all the way to these special homes in Vilnius so I could bring this colorful dream to life. Sometimes it takes many hearts working together for one dream to grow wings. 

It was such a joy to stand in front of this wall, paint, imagine, dream, and watch an empty space slowly become a world filled with color, movement, hope, and possibility.

Perhaps that is what art does best—it gives us a place to dream before our dreams become real.

Keep dreaming. Keep sailing. Keep flying.
Because sometimes the most beautiful journeys begin with one small paper boat and one very big dream.

With love,
Rolandas Dabrukas
Artist & Muralist
www.RolandasArt.com

We made the local news … famous in Molėtai! 💛💚❤️ 

A wonderful visit, extraordinary people, and a little reminder that kindness travels a very long way. So happy to see the friendship between our organizations celebrated in the newspaper. 

It was a privilege to visit a school for neurodivergent children. We met the students, who gave us a tour of the facility, spent time in the classrooms, and were welcomed with countless hugs and smiles.  The children’s joy was contagious, and their warmth touched each of us.

We were also deeply impressed by the love, patience, and care shown by the teachers and staff.

As it was time to leave, the students walked us to our car singing beautiful songs. It was clear they were not ready to say goodbye…and neither were we.

This school was able to purchase new desks for its students through your donations, creating a more comfortable and welcoming learning environment. The DoL LA also helped sponsor a family festival, organized by the school, bringing students, parents, and the community together for a day of celebration.

The children shared songs and dances with us. Their enthusiasm, talent, and bright smiles filled our hearts with joy and reminded us of how much can be accomplished when people come together to support one another.

We took the day off…celebrating the Pink Soup Festival!

Today we had the privilege of co-sponsoring an annual festival that brings joy to disadvantaged children and Ukrainian refugees. The day was filled with laughter, games, creativity, and countless smiles. We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with these amazing children and to share moments of kindness, encouragement, and togetherness.

Today we visited a school for Ukrainian refugee children in Vilnius. Through your donations and Vin Karnila’s assistance (Vilnius International Club), we were able to supply much-needed English books to the school. It’s a beautiful reminder that even small acts of charity can open doors to hope, confidence, and brighter futures.

Spending time with močiutes at the Rumbonys Home for Seniors was a true gift, with simple moments, warm hearts, and meaningful conversations. A beautiful reminder that kindness and connection create lasting memories.