Today, December 19, Ukraine celebrates the Day of St Nicholas, the patron saint of children and all the destitute. And the whole world celebrates International Day of the poor. Therefore, it is a double reason, first of all, to recall the importance of being merciful and generous and give others a smile, joy and pleasure. How to help those, who are most in need during the holidays, what charitable and volunteer actions are planned and how to share warmth and love during the winter holidays with others ‒ find out in the material from DUMKA.
Winter holidays are not only an opportunity to have a good and lovely time, but also to become better, to share kindness with others, because even small actions can change someone’s life and help, and at the same time, make us happy. After all, what can bring more joy than help to those, who need it most? At New Year and Christmas, we can gift ourselves something real ‒ to make happy orphans, children with disabilities, lonely elderly people, military, homeless. And you can do it in different ways, choose the most convenient one!
How to help children?
New Year and Christmas gifts. You can find out what kind of things to give to children on the sites or pages on Facebook of the foundations themselves or through volunteer and community organizations, or personally find out it in orphanages, boarding schools, nursing houses. Quite often, children write letters to Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus, what they dream about and what gift they would like to receive. It can be ordinary, but nice things: sweets, winter gloves, toys, books, clothes and etc. You can become that same Santa Claus and give them what they want so much, or something that St Nicholas did not bring to you in due time because the parents did not have the means to do so.
Fundraising. The winter holidays will end, and the surge in charity will decrease somewhat, so you can help children not only receive Christmas gifts, but also things, necessary for everyday life, raise funds for special equipment for treatment, improvement of premises, organization of rest, even on the most elementary things: food products, clothing, vitamin complexes etc.
In recent years, an equally important category of children in need of help are those ones, who have suffered as a result of the war in the East and the children of participants of United Forces Operation and the ATO. The volunteers also call for help to organize their vacation.
Dariya Kasiyanova, director of development programs for the charity organization “SOS Children’s Towns of Ukraine”, said in a commentary to DUMKA, “The children, who are living now on the line of demarcation, have a huge problem with leisure and recreation. Only orphans and those deprived of parental care are rehabilitated for public funds. Poor families, and there are a lot of them, cannot send their child to rest so that it can take a break from the war. I would recommend to everyone, who is ready to help, consider the opportunity to provide rest to these children. For example, in the Kyiv region there is a unique camp “Lisova Zastava” with a program for the rehabilitation of children, affected by the war.”
There is also an annual campaign “Christmas Candle” from the Caritas Ukraine Foundation, which helps children, who find themselves in difficult life circumstances. Last year, all the proceeds were directed to improving the health of children.
Companies can also join the fundraising: to provide discounts for the purchase of all necessary things, to allow the installation of special boxes or ads, banners etc. Often funds offer cooperation on favorable terms. Olga Mazur, the head of communications at the Tabletochky Foundation, for example, says, “We offer companies every year to take part in the action “Charity instead of souvenirs” ‒ instead of New Year gifts for partners, transfer funds to help children. On our part, we send an electronic postcard with congratulations that companies can send to partners and explain their decision.”
But not all help is measured in money. You can also share the most expensive than you have ‒ your time. All those, who are not indifferent, can help in organizing a holiday: holding any events, concerts, matinees, master classes, art therapies, decorating the rooms etc. Also, when delivering gifts to children, the foundations face the problem of lack of money for fuel, lack of transport and drivers-volunteers, who would agree to help transport gifts.
Medication and treatment. For children, who are seriously ill, not only gifts are important, but also the purchase of medicines and raising funds for treatment. Olga Mazur, in a commentary to DUMKA, stressed, “Children, who are now undergoing treatment, dream to recover and get back to a normal childhood, where there will be new dreams and many toys. And in order for this to happen, they need to undergo proper treatment, for which medications are needed. In January, a surge of charity will subside, and there may not be enough medicine. We ask you to help children pass the continuous treatment ‒ to participate in the action “Gifts for Health”.
There are also several charity projects that help children with cancer. They work on this principle: they sell clothes, anyone, who wants can bring them to the store, so that someone else can buy them, and all the money they transfer to treat children. Such projects are “Laska” (Kyiv), “Dobrobbutik” (Odesa), “Closet of goodness” (Kharkiv), “Dari dobro” (Zaporizhzhya). Anyone can join this action.
Charitable funds: “Ukrainian Charity Exchange”, “Tabletochky”, “SOS Children’s Towns of Ukraine”, “Dopomogayemo”, “Maltese help service”, “Everybody can”, “Caritas Ukraine”, “Klub dobrodiiv”, “Mriiu zhyty”, DonorUA and others.
How to help the military?
New Year and Christmas gifts. You can help the military by being able to at least remind a little of their home and create a certain holiday atmosphere. This may be simple products, cards and greetings, sweets, tea, coffee, nuts, warm socks and clothes, and the like.
Valeriya Lopotukha, in the commentary to DUMKA, notes, “On holidays, the main thing for them is the manifestation of care and attention, because now there are practically no problems with providing the army, except for specific equipment. How to show this attention and care? Many have familiar volunteers or military men, and through them, you can pass on your presents. What exactly to buy? In winter, most suffer from a lack of vitamins. Therefore, the best gift will be nuts, dried fruit, tea, honey, sweets, cookies and more. You can also buy some comic gifts: for example, Santa Claus hat or red gloves. These gifts are not only uplifting but also show care and gratitude for what the guys are doing. And it will not look strange, because the military has a very good sense of humour.” On the “Territory of Goodness Foundation” website or Facebook page, you can learn the details and help the military.
Fundraising. Of course, creating at least a small holiday atmosphere is important, but much more urgent is the provision of the necessary: technologies and means for more efficient military operations, medicines, tents, backpacks, warm clothes and the like. You can also help with the transportation of all things directly to the military.
Charitable foundations: “Territory of Goodness”, “ArmySOS”, “Save life”, an All-Ukrainian Association “Patriot” and others.
It is important to remember that sometimes those, who are very close, also need help. Ask them. Invite to a festive dinner, spend time with them. Help may be different. The main thing is to share our warmth, love and the most necessary things with others because what you give, you get back. Gratitude for the good is not just the word “thank you”, but also a barely noticeable joy in the eyes of another. It heals, gives faith and reminds of one’s own value in the world.
Help those, who spend the Christmas holidays in the hospital, in orphanages, boarding schools, nursing houses, boarding houses, on the line of demarcation, on the front line, or even on the street. And do not forget about those, who during the holidays will be in Russian prisons, in the remand prisons, your postcards will support their spirit.
To help those, who need it during the holidays is important. Helping constantly is priceless.
Text by Tetyana Gnativ
