Warsaw charity fair raises over $2000 for gifts to aid Ukrainian children in war zones

During the "Holidays on the Line of Fire" campaign, a charity fair was held in Warsaw where 9 thousand zlotys [$2214 – ed.] were raised to buy gifts for children from Ukraine who reside in areas affected by war.

The Internet portal "Nash Vybir" reported that.

The fair was organized by the Uniters Foundation together with the Ukrainian Home Foundation and the Association of Ukrainians in Poland. At the event, visitors had the opportunity to purchase:

• handmade jewelry;
• festive decor;
• ceramic products, clothes, candles, and paintings;
• homemade pastries and traditional Ukrainian dishes.

Almost 50 artisans took part in the fair, and guests had the opportunity to attend master classes. In particular, adults learned how to make candles from beeswax and a Christmas spider from straw, and a "Christmas Star" class was held for children.

The organizers plan to spend the funds received on purchasing the following necessary things for children:

• warm blankets, hand warmers, vitamins;
• thermal cups, hats, scarves, mittens;
• flashlights with batteries and earplugs;
• soft toys and sweets.

Volunteers and military personnel will deliver these gifts to children in front-line areas: Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions.

"These children need support and hope the most right now because they live in very terrible conditions there. This cannot even be shown because many of these children are in strategic locations where taking photos is not always possible. Volunteers do not even get there, and the military brings the gifts," said Halyna Andrushkov, founder of the Uniters Foundation.

The Ukrainian House Meeting Center coordinator, Kateryna Pytlyk, emphasized that the event united Ukrainians and Poles, who willingly bought Christmas gifts. Ukrainian dishes, particularly varenyky, were in great demand.

"There were many craftswomen whose products emphasized Ukrainian culture's uniqueness. This was complemented by Ukrainian cuisine and music elements," craftswoman and fair participant Yanina Butenko said.

She added, "it was nice to see guests from Poland and abroad. I believe that the fair was an important element of cultural diplomacy. Many foreigners expressed their delight."

At the same time, writer and author Lena Korsak, whose books could be purchased during the fair, noted:

"I read the event announcement on the Ukrainian House website and immediately decided to participate because I wanted to support the charity fair and find new readers."

For reference:

The Charity Fair, held in 2024 at the Diplomatic Academy in Kyiv under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, successfully raised over 1 million hryvnias (approximately $24,000) in donations. 26 embassy representatives participated in the event.

The Charity Fair-2024 was held on Saturday, November 30. It was co-organized by the Association Spouses of Ukrainian Diplomats Association and the International Women's Club of Kyiv (IWCK), together with Ukrainian artisans, artists, and partners, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the General Directorate for Servicing Foreign Missions.

Earlier, the 26th Annual Charity Christmas Bazaar was held in the Latvian capital, Riga, organized by the International Women's Club of Riga. The event brought together residents, city guests, and representatives of foreign embassies, united by a common goal—supporting charitable initiatives.

It was also announced that leading up to the Christmas and New Year festivities, the Ukrainian brand "Yavereta" launched a charitable collection of patches and socks titled "Holidays in Antarctica." This collaboration between the brand and the National Antarctic Science Center of Ukraine aims to raise funds to support Ukrainian soldiers serving in Ukraine's armed forces. 30% of the proceeds from selling these products will aid polar explorers defending their country.