The St. Nicholas Day is coming on Dec. 19, meaning that children all around Ukraine will wake up to find gifts under their pillows or in their shoes. It is also the time when charities raise donations for children in need. Here are some of the ways to donate to children in Kyiv.
Presents for children of soldiers
For a second year in a row, students from Kyiv-Mohyla Academy organize a concert for Ukrainian soldiers and their children. The concert will take place on Dec. 22, with music bands LVNA and Stereo Sontse playing. At the concerts, the students will hand out presents to the children of the soldiers. They put together a list of 14 children’s wishes. One can pick a child and hand a present during the concert or transfer money to organizers and they will buy the presents.
Organizers contacts: Olga Kachanova, +38063-453-2535.
Bank cards for donations: 2600 5011 499 549 (in hryvnias), 2600 0011 499 641 (in dollars), 2600 3011 499 671 (in euro)
Concert for Soldiers and Their Children. Dec. 22. 7 p.m. Culture and Arts Center (9 Illinska St.). Free
Presents for HIV-positive children
Olena Pinchuk’s AntiAIDS Foundation opened a charity shop on Dec. 15. Part of the proceeds is donated to the children living with HIV. Among other things, the shop sells a set of 10 handmade postcards for Hr 200. The postcards were illustrated by eight-year-old HIV-positive boy, Illya.
AntiAids Charity Shop. 2 Mechnykova St. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Also, the foundation put together a list of presents that HIV-positive children want for Christmas. One can pick a wish from the online list and donate a present.
Christmas Arsenal Fair
A Christmas Fair in Kyiv’s Mystetskiy Arsenal sells handmade gifts, sweets and Christmas decorations. One of the venues is a charity coffee house, which will donate its income to buy medicine for children from Ukraine’s war-torn eastern regions. Also, during the fair, charitable foundation Dobra Lystivka (Good Postcard) will sell postcards with illustrations of local artists. From every postcard, Hr 3 will be donated to children with disabilities in Zhytomyr.
Through Dec. 20. 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Closes on 6 p.m. on Dec. 20). Mystetskiy Arsenal (10-12 Lavrska St.). Hr 60, free entrance for kids under six years old
Help children with cancer
Tabletochki is a charity foundation that raises money for treatment of children with cancer. It is already done with collecting Christmas presents for children in cancer hospitals this year, but one can still donate to one of their other initiatives listed on their English-language website.
An option is available to set a monthly or annual donation from your bank account.
