Article from November 28, 2003 From the San Mateo County Times.

Burlingame-based group assists farmers in former Soviet-bloc nation

By Erin Sherbert
esherbert@sanmateocountytimes.com

Working from his Burlingame home, Vytautas Sliupas has managed to help modernize a small farming village in northwest Lithuania.

The retired engineer relies on donors and a handful of volunteers to run his nonprofit agency - the Auksuciai Foundation - which assists small - scale farmers in Lithuania in learning modern farming methods so they can soon complete on the free market.

But like many charitable organizations, the Auksuciai Foundation is suffering financially during these bad economic times, said Sliupas, a Lithuanian immigrant.

The foundation - which has a budget of about $45,000 - was once getting about $500, but now, donors are only giving $50 or $100. The next goal is to develop more farm buildings over there, which means the foundation needs $1 million.

"We need more money," said Sliupas, adding that the foundation borrowed money to ship $200,000 worth of humanitarian aid and farm equipment to the village in 2001. "Those small farmers need help, because nobody else cares about them."

During the Cold War, the Soviets took over much of the Lithuanian farm - land, making it government property. It wasn't until the early 1990s, when Lithuania became independent again, that the farmland was given back to its owners.

At this time, Sliupas, who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1940s, received some farmland that had belonged to his parents. But like many of the children of these farmers, he didn't know what to do with it or how to farm.

That's when he teamed up with farmers and agriculture experts and decided to bring U.S. farming techniques, equipment and aid to the Lithuanian farmers.

Upon visiting the small farming village, he and his fellow volunteers started bringing modern farming technology and skills into the area.

In addition, the foundation has sponsored Lithuanian students in their efforts to obtain hands - on training in agricultural in California. Next on the agenda is the construction of a research and a teaching center for Lithuanian farmers.

"Lithuania will be part of the European Union in a year or two, and farmers will have to compete in the free market," Sliupas said.

Donors are asked to make checks payable to the Auksuciai Foundation, 2907 Frontera Way, Burlingame, California 94010.