TNMU Students – Helpers of St. Nicholas!

In these challenging times, we all look to miracles, kindness, and hope with special anticipation. For Christians of both Eastern and Western traditions, the feast of St. Nicholas is a day filled with warmth and generosity — a time to bring joy, care, and support to children in need, so that every child, regardless of life circumstances, can feel loved, dream freely, and experience true festive magic.

This year, TNMU lecturers and students once again continued the long-standing university tradition dedicated to St. Nicholas Day by extending a helping hand to those facing hardship due to war, loss of loved ones, displacement, or other difficult life situations. The helpers of St. Nicholas supported and delighted children who longed for attention, gifts, kind words, smiles, and warm embraces.

“This year we visited 12 families with 23 children living in Ternopil. These included families with orphaned children under guardianship, children with disabilities, and children whose parents went missing while serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Students and their curators from the Educational and Scientific Institute of Pharmacy and the Medical Faculty took part in the initiative. Together, we made the children’s dreams come true, visiting them with gifts — sweets, toys, fruit, clothing — inspired by the powerful experiences of previous years,” said Ivanna Kernychna.

Every year, lecturers of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry together with their student groups join this charitable initiative. On December 5, 2025, Associate Professors Olha Poliak, Liubomyr Kryskiv, and Tetiana Kucher, along with 2nd-, 3rd-, and 5th-year students, participated in the campaign. They purchased baby cereals, fruit, sweets, and other essential items for a family raising children with disabilities.
The main goal was to bring a piece of holiday warmth and hope to this family, delivering St. Nicholas’ greetings so that the children could feel joy and believe in miracles. In difficult times, it is especially important to support one another, do good deeds, and show kindness so that children never lose faith in goodness.

Students of groups FF-302 and FF-502, together with their curators Assoc. Prof. Ivanusa I. and Assoc. Prof. Mykhalkiv M., visited a family whose father went missing at war. The children are raised by their grandmother, who gives them daily care and love. To bring warmth and festive spirit to their home, students prepared gifts: sweets, fruit, warm sweaters, school supplies, power banks, and creative kits. Good deeds unite us, and sincerity and compassion make the world brighter. Once again, St. Nicholas did not forget those who need warmth the most.

Together with their curator Assoc. Prof. Kernychna I., another student group participated by preparing presents, sweets, and fruit for a three-year-old boy now living with a foster family. The visit left the students with many positive emotions and cherished memories, bringing holiday spirit even in difficult times and sparking a little light of childhood in their hearts.

First-year students (MM-103 and MM-101), accompanied by lecturers of the Department of Medical Biology — Assoc. Prof. Pryvrotska I.B. and Assistant Ruzhytska O.Yu. — joined the annual St. Nicholas initiative as well. On the eve of the holiday, they visited Mykola and Roman, bringing warmth and gifts they had been dreaming about. Moments of joy and sincere surprise in the children’s eyes reaffirm that kindness truly has the power to change the world. Students conversed with the boys, supported them, and delighted them with sweets and special presents, while also preparing a pleasant surprise for their mother, Mrs. Nadiia. The meeting was filled with sincerity, smiles, and festive cheer.

This year, students of MM-113 and MM-111 also joined the university initiative for the first time. Liliia Cherniuk, Yana Kotliar, Kateryna Kretsu (MM-113) and Maria Pokaliuk, Maria Ishchuk, Sofiia Severyna, Andrii Lanevych, Olena Solovei (MM-111) visited a family where a single mother is raising her son Stas. The child was sincerely overjoyed with the gifts — his smile was the best gratitude. Many thanks to everyone who contributed. Thanks to your support, this child felt a bit more holiday magic during these difficult times, and the students had the opportunity to feel like true helpers of St. Nicholas.

Students of MM-107 and MM-112 also joined the campaign, visiting a family with a 4-year-old girl, Zlata, and a 16-year-old boy, Maksym, who had fled their home because of the war and now temporarily live in Ternopil. We sincerely thank everyone who supported the initiative. Your kindness brought these children more holiday joy and renewed faith in goodness and mutual support.

Second-year medical students also took part in the campaign for the first time. Together with student Danylo Dihalenko (TR-204), they visited a family with three children under guardianship and prepared sweets and gifts to bring them joy, holiday spirit, and faith in miracles. Each small present carried a piece of warmth for those who need it most. Doing good together is an honor and inspiration for our student community. May St. Nicholas visit every home, and may our small acts of kindness become part of a greater miracle.

– “Today, on the eve of St. Nicholas Day, we visited five children and delivered gifts. Thanks to our caring classmates and friends, we collected funds to purchase warm clothes and shoes, school supplies, toys, fruit, and sweets. The children greeted us joyfully, eagerly unpacking and trying on their presents. In these difficult times, we are truly grateful to the university for the opportunity to become helpers of St. Nicholas and bring warmth and happiness into two homes. Thanks to everyone who contributed — your names are now linked to the smiles of these children.”

As the night of St. Nicholas approaches — a time of warmth, hope, and little miracles — not every family is able to create a real celebration for their children. Diana Bik, a student of group MM-416, organized a fundraising initiative to help a family facing severe hardship. She purchased gifts according to the children’s wishes, with active support from her classmates. Together, Diana Kaminska, Viktoriia Sarapuk, Anna Kladochna, and Roman Sodoma visited the family, personally greeting the children and presenting them with their long-awaited gifts. We extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the initiative and helped create a true holiday miracle. Together, we make the world a better place.

We also express our sincere gratitude to Mrs. Tetiana Horbonis, head of the Ternopil City Centre of Social Services for Family, Children, and Youth, and to Mrs. Nataliia Nizdran, leading social worker of the center, for their ongoing support and many years of cooperation.