The campaign “Christmas Express Latvia–Ukraine” invites people to prepare gifts for children in Ukraine

The charity organization “Tavi draugi” (“Your Friends”) is organizing the charity campaign “Christmas Express Latvia–Ukraine” for the fourth year, inviting residents of Latvia to become Christmas elves and prepare Christmas gifts for children in Ukraine, in the Chernihiv region. This year, 254 letters from children have been received from Naumovka in the Koriukivka district, Zhadovo in the Novhorod-Siverskyi district, and from Zhadovo School.

Since the beginning of the war, the “Tavi draugi” team has been actively working in the Chernihiv region, supporting civilians and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as implementing infrastructure restoration projects. For the fourth year, the association’s Ukrainian colleagues have collected letters from local children addressed to Santa Claus, also known as Saint Mykolai. This year at least 254 children of different ages from Naumovka, Zhadovo, and Zhadovo School will receive gifts.

“For Ukrainian children, war is everyday life – they have grown up in these conditions and are spending their childhood this way. In the ‘Christmas Express Latvia–Ukraine’ charity campaign, every year we give children from Chernihiv schools, crisis centers, orphanages, and hospitals practical and thoughtful gifts that will be useful for daily life and studies during wartime. Children—especially in wartime—wait for a holiday miracle, so we are truly grateful to everyone who will take on the role of an elf and help bring joy to the little Ukrainians,” says Kaspars Bērziņš, representative of “Tavi draugi”.

“My name is Nadya. I am 10 years old. I study in the fifth grade of Zhadovo School. I want to go to school to study, but because of frequent air raid alarms, I study online. When there is an air raid alarm, we study in a shelter. We also regularly lose electricity because Shaheds fly often. I study on my phone, and the battery is not always enough for all lessons, so I would very much like a power bank to charge my phone. To not hear explosions or the sound of Shaheds flying, I would like wireless headphones. And a small souvenir as a keepsake from your country! I will be very grateful for the gifts, and I wish peace for the entire land.”

All letters to Santa Claus and children’s wishes can be found here: https://ekspresis.tavidraugi.lv.

How to become an elf for Ukrainian children?

• At https://ekspresis.tavidraugi.lv choose the child or children you want to prepare gifts for.
• Prepare the gift and deliver it to the “Tavi draugi” organization in Riga, at Lapeņu Street 23 (weekdays 10:00–17:00, Wednesdays until 19:00, Saturdays 10:00–15:00) or to the charity shop in Riga, Ģertrūdes Street 32 (weekdays 10:00–19:00, Saturdays 11:00–17:00) until December 15.
• Gifts can also be delivered for free via “Latvijas Pasts” using blue parcel lockers throughout Latvia by registering the parcel at www.mans.pasts.lv with the code TAVIDRAUGI. The parcel locker accepts packages up to 39 × 38 × 58 cm and up to 31.5 kg.

Elves are encouraged to pack gifts in transparent packaging or open gift bags so that it is easy to check the contents, add missing items, and repack them according to transportation and border control requirements. A note with the child’s name, age, and gift-list number must be attached to each gift.

As part of the “Christmas Express Latvia–Ukraine” campaign, the mixed Latvian-Ukrainian choir of “Tavi draugi” and their friends invite everyone to a charity concert on December 9 at 19:00 at Riga Cathedral. The concert will feature works by Latvian, Ukrainian, and other international composers. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the “Christmas Express Latvia–Ukraine” campaign. Tickets are available in advance on Bezrindas.lv and will also be sold at the venue before the event. More about the concert can be read here.

The “Christmas Express Latvia–Ukraine” with gifts for children and other donations will depart for Ukraine at the end of this year.