TNMU Students as St. Nicholas’ Helpers
Children and adults eagerly await St. Nicholas Day, inspiring belief in miracles and hope for magic. Every year, during these December days, TNMU students step into the role of St. Nicholas’ helpers. This year, second-year students from the Faculty of Dentistry joined the initiative, supported by Vasyl Krupel, an Assistant from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, and Ivanna Kernychna, an Associate Professor from the Department of Pharmacognosy and Medical Botany.
The Ternopil City Social Services Center for Families, Children, and Youth provided TNMU volunteers with a list of families facing hardships, including internally displaced families, those with children with disabilities, and families of fallen Ukrainian defenders. Overall, students visited 10 families, bringing joy to 21 children.
Contributions by Student Groups:
Groups SS 201 and SS 202 purchased sweets, fruits, stationery, and toys, visiting two families with five children. “Words cannot describe the emotions we saw in the children’s eyes as they opened their gifts. Their joy filled us with positivity and belief in miracles,” shared group leaders Vasyl Vykliuk and Iryna Rasevych.
Group SS 203 visited a family with Victoria and Vasyl, gifting winter footwear, toys, sweets, and more. The volunteers were delighted to bring happiness into their home.
Group SS 204 greeted nine-year-old Veronika and six-year-old Hlib, fulfilling their dreams with sweets, mandarins, and toys. “The children’s joy was indescribable, and they truly believed in the magic of the season,” said Oleksandr Lyaskovets. He also shared how a visit with a family from the Kherson region turned into a two-hour conversation over tea, with a grandmother recalling peaceful life near Kakhovka and the difficult evacuation from occupied territory.
Group SS 205 fulfilled the wishes of four children: Yulia wanted a glue gun and sticks, Yeva asked for a paint-by-numbers set, Milana requested a mirror with lights, and Emma wished for a children’s cosmetics kit. The helpers of St. Nicholas made all their dreams come true.
Group SS 206 prepared gifts for a family with four children, considering each child’s interests. They brought fruits and winter clothes for all, a construction set and plush toys for the youngest, a speaker for Artem, who loves music, and a beadwork set for Diana, who enjoys crafting bracelets. “The smiles on the children’s faces and their joy reminded us of the value of kindness and support,” said group leader Vlad Fediv.
Group SS 207 visited two families. For one, they bought winter shoes for the girls, diapers, toys, beads, sweets, and socks. For the other, they provided advent calendars, stationery, a holiday-themed mug, and sweets. “It was heartwarming to do something good,” shared group leader Kateryna Kozytska. “In the first family, we almost cried. The little girl was so kind and prepared handmade beadwork gifts for us. The boy in the second family shyly opened up but later eagerly explored his presents.”
Special thanks go to all participants and to Tetyana Horbonis, Director of the Ternopil City Social Services Center, and Natalya Nizdral, a lead social work specialist, for their cooperation and support in this initiative.