Christmas Joy Program - 2015

During the 2015 Christmas season, special emphasis was given to needy children, especially those suffering from the ravages of war. The following is a summary of St. Nicholas events organized by UUARC. All of the children received gift packets from the heavenly visitor, courtesy of UUARC.  Overall, 801 children in total were able to enjoy the Christmas season thanks to the generosity of Ukrainian Americans and the endeavors of UUARC.    

The antiterrorist operations (ATO) in eastern Ukraine extract a heavy human toll. In Luhansk Oblast of eastern Ukraine, 243 children received visits and gifts. Of these, 150 children were in the most dangerous (so-called gray zone) area of ATO, in the town of Stanytsia Luhanska. In the city of Shchastia in the Novoaydar District of Luhansk 43 children received presents. In the Stanytsia-Luhansk Regional Center for Rehabilitation of Invalid Children 50 recipients received a surprise visit. Here is an excerpt from a subsequent letter to UUARC received from the Center, signed by Acting Director Natalia Ryedkozubova:

“We express our sincere thanks for the gifts and clothing that the children received for St. Nicholas Day and Christmas… Both the children and parents have had to experience war firsthand… Many families are in dire need of clothing and things for their children. We are very grateful to you and appreciate your kind attitude… Our children are invalids with various handicaps… Although they have serious health problems, and some have no living quarters or damaged homes, they are always happy to be alive and receive presents.”

St. Nicholas provided gifts to 117 orphaned children in families who lost National Guardsmen in ATO. In the city of Cherkasy, 83 children in the regional boarding school for deaf-mute children received presents. Here is an excerpt from the letter from Cherkasy Educational-Rehabilitative Center, signed by its Director I.F. Zhaniayko:

            “Currently, we have 86 children, aged 2-19. Most of them reside here round-the-clock. They excitedly dove into the whirl of national traditions associated with one of the most beloved winter holidays – St. Nicholas Day. A special moment was the receiving of gifts from St. Nicholas. So we thank you for the gifts and sweaters for the children. Our many years of cooperation with UUARC provide evidence of a friendly and sincerer relationship.”

In the town of Koropets in Chernihiv Oblast, the Regional Directorate for Social Services hosted St. Nicholas as he distributed packages to 30 orphaned children from indigent families. The Sumy Oblast Red Cross Directorate in the city of Sumy had 150 recipients. These were all children of families whose provider was killed or gravely wounded in ATO, or refugees from the war zone, or orphans. Here is an excerpt from a letter received from them, signed by the Director I.V. Shapoval and Deputy Director A.P. Lushpa:

            “We express our thanks to the UUARC for the holiday that you helped organize on St. Nicholas Day for children whose parents were killed or wounded in combat in the ATO zone… The happy smiles on the faces of the children reinforced the holiday spirit which was granted to them by Ukrainians living in America, for which we are very grateful to them.”

St. Nicholas also visited the capital city of Kyiv, where he was welcomed by the municipal organization “Diana” for families of indigent children, where there were 37 happy recipients.

The Right Sector is a powerful political movement that played a major role in the eventual triumph of pro-Western forces during the Revolution of Dignity. St. Nicholas presented gifts to 73 children from families who lost a Right Sector member in ATO. Finally, St, Nicholas visited the District Council of the city of Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast in order to cheer up 18 children there. Here is an excerpt from a letter sent by the Civil Affairs Group of Sector “B” in Donetsk Oblast, signed by it commander Lt. Col. O.O. Hvozdkov:

            “We express our deep gratitude and sincere thanks for your aid to children living in the ATO zone in Donetsk Oblast. After all, the children are our future. It is the children and youth that are the treasure of the Ukrainian nation. Thus, your assistance is a huge and priceless investment into the welfare of the upcoming generation in eastern Ukraine, and also is evidence of your caring from the future of our Fatherland.”                   

UUARC sent financial support allowing Plastuny from villages Avdeevka, Donetsk, and Mariupol, who organized a visit for a dozen children from the front-line areas to participate in the Christmas holidays.

Завдяки щедрій українській громаді в США, ЗУАДК щорічно ухвалює фонди, щоб дати змогу дітям-інвалідам, сиротам, дітям батьків-воїнів і дітям біженців із східніх областей України вітати св. o. Миколая. Під час цьогорічних святкувань, понад 800 дітей одержало подарунки; ось кілька прикладів:

Сумська обласна організація Товариства Червоного Хреста України при помочі ЗУАДК-у влаштувала День св. Миколая для 150 дітей, батьки яких загинули або були пораненні в зоні АТО; вони отримали подарунки від небесного гостя.

Св. Миколай відвідав найнебезпечніші зони АТО і обдарував дітей: у смт. Станиця Луганська 150 дітей, м. Щастя 43 дітей, у Станично-Луганському реабілітаційноми центрі, 50 дітей-інвалідів одержало солодощі та нову одежу.

Небесний гість загостив і обдарував 117 дітей із родин загиблих в АТО від Національної Ґвардії України, 50 дітей від Правого Сектора, 30 дітей-сиріт з багатодітних сімей в Коропському управлінню соціяльного захисту Чернігівської области, 37 дітей організаці „Діяна” багатодітних сімей в Києві, 73 дітей поранених під час обстрілів, та 18 дітей в смт. Сартана.

У комунальному закладі „Країна добра” Черкаської обласної ради відбулася святочна програма „Яка радість, який рай, іде святий Миколай”, для дітей зі складними вадами розвитку; 83 дітей захоплено зустрічали св. Миколая і раділи подарунками та теплими светерками.

З листа Міністерства Оборони України: „Висловлюємо глибоку вдячність за Вашу допомогу дітям, що проживають в зоні АТО в Донецькій області. Завдяки Вашому сприянню, діти мали нагоду відчути настрій Різдвяних свят та насолодитися справжнім дитинством, яке було обірване війною”.

ЗУАДК складає всім жертводавцям щиру подяку за допомогу, підтримку та небайдужість до бідниx дітей в Українi – скарбу нашої нації.

UUARC sent Christmas care packages to brighten children's spirits, who are living in the Grey Zone in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, through the Military Civil Administration of the Military Defense.  Among those spirts lifted, were children residing in the Stanitsya Luhanska Rehabilitation Center for disabled children.