New Year Gifts and Joy for Nikolaev Orphanage
During our December 2012 visit to the Nikolaev Orphanage for the opening of the Nadezhda Computer Class, my father and I also stopped by the dormitory for the younger children — the kindergarten and 1st graders.
We soon discovered that one of the 1st grade classes hadn’t yet received their New Year gifts. Wanting to make sure no child was left out, we asked the kids to draw what they wished for. Their drawings became our shopping list.
In January 2013, just in time for Ukrainian Christmas, we returned with boxes full of presents — toy cars for the boys, dolls for the girls, and LEGO games for everyone. We also donated a big-screen TV for the kindergarten playroom, making it a space for both fun and learning.
The children’s joy was contagious — their laughter, smiles, and excitement filled the room, reminding us that happiness often comes from the simplest gestures of care.
