PHILADELPHIA – During the Christmas holidays of 2017-2018, the Philadelphia-based United Ukrainian American Relief Committee (UUARC), with the help of St. Nicholas, delivered Christmas presents to 1,101 children in Ukraine. The children of refugees, children without permanent homes, and children of soldiers who died or were wounded in the war in eastern Ukraine received sweets and other gifts.
Many towns and villages in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions are on the frontlines of the conflict, and even St. Nicholas needed help in delivering the gifts. Thankfully, the Military and Civilian Administration and the Department of Education helped St. Nicholas and no child was left disappointed.
St. Nicholas was able to visit the Antonivka school-internat in the Novoodesk district of the Mykolaiv region.
Near the city of Mariupol in the village of Sartana, St. Nicholas once again needed help. Due to the intensification of shelling by the militants, the local Red Cross distributed many gifts, bringing much joy to the children.
St. Nicholas also gifted 60 elderly people. Because they fought for an independent Ukraine, they were exiled by the Soviet regime and are now in poor health. They received all the ingredients necessary for a Christmas Eve holy supper.
Additionally, as a result of the UUARC’s program “Know your native land,” children from the village of Chyzhka, Lviv region, visited Kyiv and viewed the national Christmas tree. Twenty-six children from the town of Konstantynivka, Donetsk region, were able to spend a happier Christmas in the city of Kolomyia, Ivano-Frankivsk region.
Here are a few excerpts from letters of appreciation that were sent to UUARC home office.
“We are very grateful to the UUARC for the gifts and your kindness to our children. Their hearts were full of joy, their eyes filled with happiness and faith in a brighter tomorrow.”
“Thank you for organizing the trip to Kyiv for our children. They were very excited to see the sights of the capital and to see the national Christmas tree of Ukraine. It was also very emotional for them to walk through the area dedicated to the Heavenly Hundred. Two special places of interest were the crypt of His Beatitude Lubomyr Husar in the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Holodomor Museum. This trip enriched the children spiritually and became a source of pride in their country.”
“These war times are very difficult for everyone. Loss of family members, loss of homes, resettlements produce extreme anxiety, especially in children. Thank you for your kindness in bringing a little joy to these youngsters.”
“The war in the East is hindering the education of our children and affects them negatively. Thank you, UUARC, for not forgetting them.”
“The administration, teachers and students of the Antonivka school, Novoodesk district, Mykolaiv region, express their sincere gratitude for the charitable assistance to our children during this Christmas season.”
“For the past several years, UUARC has become a true friend to our children. We express our heartfelt thanks for the items of clothing, sweets and gifts which the children received on St. Nicholas Day.”
Children from a school in Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast.