Related by Marriage: Supporting the newcomers.

In the aftermath of World War II, the "first wave" of Lithuanians already living in the United States played important roles in the resettlement of the emigrating Displaced Persons. The first wavers did so despite some of the chaffing socio-economic tensions that existed between them and the DPs.

Many first wavers served as sponsors to the DPs. Others supported the new arrivals financially. In many cases, first wavers privately financed home mortgages for the DPs. In other instances, first wavers quietly made the twenty-percent down payments then necessary to purchase a house.

A good way to collect money for the DPs was to sponsor a picnic. The benefit picnics often took place at Vytautas Grove, on Chicago's South Side, behind the stockyards. Organizers would collect money for the DPs at the picnics, and the picnics usually featured a raffle, or fundraising "loterija."

Vytautas Grove, Chicago, Illinois, 1949. Mr. Irene's maternal Grandmother, Anna, sits on the far left at a fundraising picnic. Her spinster sister, Petra, stands behind the group.
 

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Vytautas Grove, Chicago, Illinois, 1949. Here, Petra sits on the left side of the picnic table with Mr. Irene's maternal Grandfather, Stanley. Grandmother Anna is on the other side of the table, at the far left end.