Bringing Holiday Cheer to Ukrainian Children Touched by War
Every holiday season, we sent gifts to Ukrainian children displaced by the war. This year we chose a direct approach to personally connect with each family, emphasizing that they are not forgotten and there is someone who cares for them and with whom they can talk. We prioritized children who lost close relatives in the war. With our volunteers’ and donors’ help, our list grew from 187 to 357. We tailored gifts to each child’s age and gender and added warm clothes for the winter. Discover some of their stories below. Thank you for your support!
Some of the Stories Shared with Us
Milana is a young girl we’ve supported for quite some time. Our assistance began last winter when we collected warm clothes for kids in Ukraine. The family originally hails from Donetsk.
Her father, Alexander S., enlisted in the military from the first days of the war and has been missing since September 18, 2023.
Sasha, an 8-year-old boy, has faced great challenges in his young life. His mother has been a field medic since 2014, providing critical aid to soldiers in the Battle of Ilovaisk. Tragically, Sasha’s father succumbed to his injuries in his wife’s arms.
The Battle of Ilovaisk in 2014 was one of the most devastating episodes in the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine, resulting in significant loss of life and leaving lasting scars on countless families.
Danila, aged 7, and Artem, 2.5 years old, are two young brothers facing the challenges of growing up without their father who enlisted in the military at the onset of the conflict and, tragically, was killed before he had the chance to meet his youngest son, Artem.
This family’s story is a poignant reminder of the great sacrifices made by many during times of conflict. The loss of a parent, especially under such circumstances, leaves an indelible mark on young lives.
Angelina, 11, and Dasha , 19, are sisters whose mother, Lyudmila, has been serving as a military medic in the Chernihiv region since April 2022. The girls reside with their mother’s sister, Tatyana, who has a disability and is raising twins with special health needs. Lyudmila visits home occasionally on weekends and dedicates nearly half of her salary to purchasing medicines and clothing for soldiers in the hospital. Additionally, their brother is actively serving in the military.
We have provided gifts for the children and a large box of equipment and medicines for the hospital.
In November, after a missile strike, their house burned down, and their grandfather died.
Oleksandra (11 years old), Sofia (12 years old), and Matviy (9 years old).
