The traditional event of “Saint Nicholas”, which was held by the Maltese Aid Mission and 20 youth organizations after receiving the benediction of the Blessed Liubomyr, Cardinal Huzar, helped meet a number of objectives.

First of all, during the event 4,500 children from boarding schools and orphanages, children from families of scanty means, receive personal gifts.

Secondly, apart from gifts, over UAH 110,000 which was raised will help solve certain problems in boarding schools. For example, funds raised last year allowed the dream of 100 children to come to life – finally, they have a warm shower, sleep on new modern beds and mattresses in warm redecorated well-heated rooms, in which cold air is no longer felt coming from the window. What in most cases has been long taken for granted became the realization of a dream for 100 children brought up mainly without parents only this year. This time, in one boarding school children will get a new workshop, in another – new orthopedic mattresses, in a third – new kitchen equipment.

Thirdly, society has come together in its efforts quite a few times already.This year, the involvement of private persons has noticeably increased. As early as several days before the receipt of letter from boarding schools the number of people willing to package a personal gift exceeded the number of letters. Many private persons made money transfers and provided vehicles for transportation. To involve everyone willing to package gifts appeared to be quite a big problem. Toys, books, clothes, sweets were collected in different schools and higher educational institutions.Today, 20 December will witness the greatest number of visits paid by the organizers to children in boarding schools and orphanages. Saint Nicholas’s assistants will be met in Lopatyn, Pidhirtsi, Zhovkva, Nahuyevychi, Sambir, Dobromyl. Awareness of the problem and the readiness to help is demonstrated by the variety of assistants. Staff of Zaliznychnyy Militia District Department, who packaged 40 gifts, will make their professional holiday a big day for children from a boarding school along with students from the Ukrainian Catholic University.Students of medicine will join their efforts with members of the “Ranok” (morning) dance group.

Certain enterprises, in particular, “OKKO” FS network, decided to continue fund-raising for children from boarding schools because they live in the boarding schools throughout the year. Moreover, “Galnaftogaz” Concern” will make a fivefold increase of the amount of raised donations.

“Saint Nicholas’s” visits, actively supported by the Main Administration of Family Affairs, will last till 25 December because many co-organizers who participated in the country’s milestone events could not make timely preparations for this event.

For the future, the event’s organizers believe an objective of paramount importance is supporting communication between young Lvivites and children many of whom live 100 kilometers away from the Regional center.

Starting from 20 December Maltese Aid Mission, “Christ’s Children” Society, “Light from Nazareth”, “New Clothing”, “Trust”, “Posvit”, “Young Ukrainians for Christ”, Lviv Student Fraternity, Student fraternities of Ivan Franko Lviv National University, National University of “Lviv Polytechnic”, Society of students of veterinary medicine “Vatra”, PLAST Ukraine’s National Scout Organization, students of Ukrainian Catholic University will begin their work on the next, ninth charitable event “Saint Nicholas”.

On behalf of the children and management of the boarding schools we would like to say a “thank you” to EVERYONE. Every time we see the smiling faces of children playing in warm rooms with toys from Saint Nicholas, one idea crosses one’s mind – the job we did was worth it.

Maltese Aid Mission wishes you a blessed New Year and Merry Christmas holidays, while thousands of children standing behind our back say THANK YOU!

Oleksiy Poburko Deputy Director of Lviv MAM,
Official Web-site of "Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church"