Saving the spirit of Christmas: What Ukrainian charity campaigns you should support these holidays

What's the problem?

Russia's war has stolen the joy of holidays from many Ukrainians. For thousands, festive days are not a time of happiness but a painful reminder of loss — loved ones who are gone, homes destroyed, and friends scattered around the world.

Children dream not of toys but peace, their fathers' return from the front, or an end to air raid sirens. Older people, left without family support, feel isolated and alone. People experiencing homelessness, who already faced hardships before, now fight to survive in even harsher circumstances. Soldiers protecting Ukraine spend their holidays far from their families and in the comfort of their homes. These people need more than just material aid — they need human warmth and care.

What's the solution?

Christmas and New Year's celebrations should shine even in times of war. This is a season when we all have the power to be someone's miracle — bringing warmth to those who need it most. It's a chance to spread joy to children, support older people, provide hot meals or warm clothing to people without homes, and show gratitude to the soldiers safeguarding our future.

Charities and volunteers across Ukraine are calling on everyone to join Christmas campaigns. These initiatives aim to ensure that those struggling due to war and hardship won't be left without love and care this holiday season.

Become St. Nicholas's helper or a Secret Santa

For children

Since 2015, the St. Nicholas's Reindeer project has brought joy to children affected by war. Every winter, volunteers organize festive events for kids and deliver gifts that fulfill the wishes children write in letters to St. Nicholas.

Before the full-scale invasion, volunteers traveled to towns and villages along the front line. This year, the project focuses on recently liberated villages in the northeastern Kharkiv region. They'll also visit Kamianske, the town hosting children displaced from the occupied city of Avdiivka, and Zaporizhzhia, which shelters families from the occupied cities of Mariupol and Berdiansk. Other destinations include Kherson, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and several cities in Ukraine's west with aid centers for displaced people. Gift deliveries will begin on December 6 and continue until late January.

How to get involved?

Here's how you can join the effort, as explained on the project's Facebook page:

1️⃣ Visit the Children Dream Database and choose a child's letter that resonates with you.

2️⃣ Click "Become a Wizard" at the end of the row. If the button isn't green, another "wizard" is already helping that child. Note: This year, gifts are collected at specific locations depending on the region. 

3️⃣ After choosing a child, you'll find the delivery address:

• On the home page of the database
• In your application summary
• In the "Taken Letters" section
• And in your confirmation email.

4️⃣ Buy the gift described in the letter. 

5️⃣ Label each gift with the child's name, surname, and location to ensure it reaches the right recipient. If ordering online, ask the seller to include this information and track the parcel's delivery.

Hurry — children's letters get picked quickly! You can also help by:

• Donating to St. Nicholas's Reindeer to cover fuel, additional gifts, or festive supplies:

PayPal: [email protected]

Monobank card number: 5375 4112 1268 9413

Monobank Collection Fund

PrivatBank card number: 5168 7521 0473 8870

PrivatBank Collection Fund

• Ordering sweet gift sets for children.
• Sharing the project on social media.

As of November 1, 2024, the Ukrainian Charity Foundation Children of Heroes supports over 10,500 children across Ukraine, 93% of whom are children of fallen soldiers. Every day, around 90 more children are added to their care.

This year, the foundation has teamed up with @myfishka_com to make the holidays unforgettable for children who have lost their parents to the war.

"We're collecting more than gifts — we're collecting smiles, happy childhoods, and faith in kindness. Your support will help create a miracle and give a child an unforgettable New Year. Every contribution matters and brightens the holiday season," the foundation shares on its page.

You can also support the fund financially using the details here.

How to get involved?

• On the My Fishka website or app, a discount program in Ukraine, you can contribute any amount of your accumulated points to the "Miracle for the Children of Heroes" holiday fundraiser. 
• Each gift costs UAH 750 ($18) and is given to a child as a Giftmall gift certificate.

The Ukrainian charity foundation Kids to Kids has launched the Christmas Miracle 2024 project. This initiative, which began in 2016, aims to bring joy and support to 335 children, including orphans, children with special needs, and children from underprivileged families.

"Every Christmas, we receive hundreds of letters from children in orphanages, special schools, and families raising kids with disabilities. These letters reveal their heartfelt wishes," says the foundation. "Our team carefully reviews each one and passes them to families eager to make these dreams come true. The children wait with all their hearts for their wishes to be fulfilled during Christmas and New Year. Families prepare gifts together and bring them to the 'Children to Children Christmas Miracle' celebration." 

How to get involved?

This year, the foundation invites everyone to join the initiative online and fulfill children's Christmas wishes. The foundation has created posters featuring the children's stories and wishes.

• Visit the foundation's social media pages on Facebook or Instagram to read the children's letters. Choose a wish that resonates with you.
• Once you've selected a letter, comment on the post with the letter's number.
• The letter is assigned to you only after a foundation representative contacts you.
• If you prefer to donate money, the foundation will select, pack, and send gifts on your behalf, keeping you updated every step.
• Stay connected! The fund promises to share photos and videos of the children receiving gifts.

The International Charitable Fund, The Power of Unity of Families United by Ksyusha of Kyiv, focuses on supporting children of fallen war heroes, orphans, and those affected by war. The organization also provides medicines to people in need, facilitates treatment and rehabilitation abroad, and delivers humanitarian aid to displaced women and children, including food, clothing, footwear, and educational materials.

Every Christmas, the foundation distributes festive food packages to the children under their care, most of whom come from the east of Ukraine.

"For us, children are the highest priority. We do everything possible to support them during this time when war has taken away safety and even the basic opportunities for a normal life," says Oksana Lazebnyk, the foundation's founder.

How to get involved?

War should never rob children of their joy and sense of safety. Follow the details here to donate to the foundation and join the Christmas miracle.

The Have To Live Charity Foundation is dedicated to becoming a reliable support system for families of fallen heroes. Everyone working at the fund has experienced the loss of a loved one in the war. They deeply understand what it means to keep living after unimaginable loss and to find strength and joy in small things.

To mark St. Nicholas Day, the organization has opened a fundraiser to provide gifts for children who have lost their fathers — their heroes. Last year, they delivered over 1,500 gifts to children of fallen defenders.

"Whether we can repeat or exceed this number depends on you, our kind donors," the foundation says. "This is our tribute to those who gave their lives so we could sleep peacefully in our homes with our families. Unfortunately, many do not realize how challenging it is for these women and children. Bureaucracy is so burdensome that sometimes it takes over a year to gather the documents needed to receive even minimal state support. This means holidays are sometimes canceled."

How to get involved?

You can donate to the Gifts for the Children of Fallen Heroes for the Holidays project, which provides psychological and social support here.

Transfer details:

CO CF Have To Live

UA823052990000026009043613599

EGRPOU 44928126

Payment purpose: Charity

The Orphanni Synytsy Charitable Foundation (its name translates to "Orphan Swallows") supports people with rare (orphan) diseases and children with severe, undiagnosed health conditions. Many of these illnesses are genetic, manifest in childhood, and often lead to disabilities.

"This winter, we aim to raise funds to help eight families afford expensive genetic tests for their children. These tests are crucial for providing an accurate diagnosis and, potentially, life-saving treatment," the organization shares.

You can make a real difference in the lives of families whose children suffer from rare diseases. No matter the amount, every donation brings these families closer to the answers they desperately need.

How to get involved?

Visit the fund's project page on GlobalGiving to learn more and make a donation, or follow the link to contribute.

For older people

The Syla Dobroty IF (Power of Kindness of Ivano-Frankivsk) charity foundation's initiative, BaDi (short for "Babusi i Didusi," which means Grandmas and Grandpas), started during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, the campaign has brought holiday cheer to more than a thousand lonely older people. This year marks the fourth cycle of the initiative.

"During the Christmas and New Year season, we organize our annual campaign to bring warmth and care to those who need it most — older people living alone. For many of them, the holidays are not joyful. That's why we strive to help them feel love and attention," says Veronika Mykhailyshyn, the campaign's coordinator.

The fund is raising money to provide food packages to these seniors, ensuring their holidays are not only festive but also heartwarming. As the organization stresses, this effort isn't just about food; it's about letting people know they're not forgotten.

How to get involved?

You can donate via the foundation's Monobank collection fund (Card Number: 4441 1111 2800 0589) or share the campaign post with your friends on social media.

For the fourth year in a row, Kremenchuk is hosting the holiday campaign Christmas for Ba and Di. This initiative focuses on supporting lonely older residents of the city. Last year, the campaign collected 254 gifts for seniors. This year, organizers are once again calling on everyone to participate.

"We invite everyone to join the campaign and become helpers. Your kindness, care, and generosity will help elderly people feel warmth and love during this special time of year," the announcement reads.

The campaign is led by the Kremenchuk Youth Parliament and the Kremenchuk City Youth Committee, with support from the city authorities.

How to get involved?

• Fill out the form by December 18.
• You'll receive details about what gift would be most suitable and appreciated by your recipient by December 20.
• Bring your wrapped gift to 19/3 Shevchenka Street in Kremenchuk by December 23.
• After the gift is delivered before Christmas, participants will receive photos of the recipients enjoying their presents.

Last year, the Odesa-based charity foundation, M Corporation, invited locals to prepare gifts for older people in their care for the first time. The idea was to bring joy with small but thoughtful presents. According to Oksana Vainbrand, one of the organizers, people donated slippers, socks, perfumes, mugs, tablecloths, gift cards, hand creams, blankets, towels, gift certificates to drugstores and supermarkets, and sweets — anything that could bring a smile to someone's face. Some bought new items, while others donated unused items from home.

When the older people received their gifts, they were as joyful as children, and the volunteers from M Corporation, one of whom dressed up as Santa, shared in their happiness. According to the charity, the emotions were heartfelt, and the foundation's beneficiaries talked about it for the entire year. That's why this year, they decided to repeat the "Secret Santa" campaign to bring pure, joyful moments to lonely older people once again.

How to get involved?

• If you're in Odesa, bring new, gift-worthy items to the Sports Palace (31 Shevchenko Avenue, left-wing) every Tuesday and Thursday in December.
• You can also send gifts via the Nova Poshta delivery service. To get the address, message M Corporation on social media or call the Santa Helpers at +380997459408.
• If donating is easier, use their SantaFund to contribute financially.

Older people in care homes, shelters, or those who are homeless often feel excluded from holiday celebrations. Youth for Peace has expanded its Secret Santa initiative this year, allowing people to give gifts to children and adults alike.

On Christmas Day, December 25, the Community of Sant'Egidio and the Youth for Peace movement will host festive meals and celebrations for thousands of people: children, the homeless, the poor, older residents of care homes, internally displaced persons, and those affected by the war.

How to get involved?

• Sponsor a festive meal. In Privat24, go to the "Payments" section, search for "Спільнота святого Егідія" (Community of Sant'Egidio), and make your donation. Don't forget to specify charity as the goal of the transfer. One meal costs around UAH 300 ($7), but you can contribute any amount.
• Prepare gifts for children. These should be for children aged 5 to 12 affected by the war. Detailed instructions are available on the initiative's page. Gifts can be brought to the Sant'Egidio community houses in Lviv or Ivano-Frankivsk. Contact the organizers to arrange a drop-off time. Gifts can also be sent via Nova Poshta by December 8: Lviv, Branch #77, recipient Vladyslav Shekhovtsov, +380953992496; Ivano-Frankivsk, Branch #7, recipient Yevhen Kopytsia, +380966485146

For Ukrainian defenders

The Gift Christmas to Soldiers campaign, organized for the third time by the Ukrainian Women's Battalion, allows anyone to send meaningful presents to the front lines. This organization, founded by journalist Aliona Danilova, unites women and provides reliable support to Ukrainian defenders. Aliona's husband, stepfather, and brother are all serving on the front lines.

Partners of the initiative include:

• Nova Poshta: Free delivery of packages to soldiers.
• Zdorova Rodyna Pharmacy Chain: Supplies of medications and medical materials.
• TacMedicine Store: Donated tactical medical equipment.
• TQ DNIPRO: Provided certified next-generation tourniquets.

How to get involved?

• Comment "+" under the campaign's post on Instagram.
• The chatbot will send you instructions via DM.
• Once you receive a list of needed items, choose one, message it to the organizers, and prepare the gift.
• Send your gift by December 16 to the address provided after confirming your choice. Volunteers will sort and deliver all packages to soldiers.

If you're unable to buy a gift but still wish to help, you can donate via the campaign's linked Monobank collection fund.

The Responsible Ukrainians Charity Fund, a network of over 200 compassionate Ukrainians and 70 socially responsible companies, has launched the Christmas Gifts for the Army initiative. This initiative allows people to send personalized and practical gifts to soldiers on the front lines.

How to get involved?

• UAH 10,000 ($240): Fund a personalized FPV drone, signed by you, to be sent to critical front-line units.
• UAH 20,000 ($480): Sponsor a personalized electronic warfare (EW) device to protect units from enemy drones.
• UAH 15,000 ($360): Cover the cost of a vehicle repair, complete with a custom inscription: "Restored with support from [Your Name]."

This campaign runs from December 4, 2024, to January 30, 2025. Donations are accepted based on specific requests processed by the foundation.

For inquiries, contact: +380984425483.

Foundation Details:

Charitable Organization Charity Fund Responsible Ukrainians (CO CF Responsible Ukrainians)

EDRPOU Code: 44866018

Bank: PrivatBank

Account: UA123052990000026004020707218

Payment Purpose: Charitable contribution to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).