Byelich presenting a displaced child with a few small toys and sweets. Ivano-Frankivsk, December 2022.Christmas
One Box organized the collection of toys in 2022 and 2023, and then delivered them in person to more than 1200 kids! The idea for these ‘St. Nick’ efforts was crafted on the drive back to Krakow from Lviv on founder Byelich’s first trip to Ukraine in August of 2022. Throughout October and November, local schools, churches and groups from northeast Michigan got involved and put together more than 200 shoeboxes of toys and treats! These were shipped to Krakow and stored until Byelich arrived in mid-December and began journeys into Ukraine to deliver the toys. Additional toys were purchased in Krakow to add to the deliveries, and approximately 700 children received either a shoebox or bag with toys and treats.
The ‘Santa Kraine T'rain’ was the theme for 2023. Once again, churches, schools and many groups jumped in and filled new school backpacks with toys and treats. More backpacks were purchased and filled in Krakow. Then the Christmas van took off and started delivering to orphanages, shelters, and military families in Nadvirna, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizhzhia, Cherkasy, Demydiv, Stari Petrivtsi, and Vinnytsia. Your generous support made the difference for more than 600 kids in these places!