A charity event called "Coffee with St. Nicholas" will take place in Lviv to support displaced children.

From November 4 to December 4, a charity event called "Coffee with Mykola" will take place in Lviv, Kyiv, Odesa, and Ivano-Frankivsk to support children and teenagers who have been forced to leave their homes due to the war. Everyone is welcome to participate by purchasing special items from the menu at their favorite establishments. The event is organized by the "Ridni" Charitable Foundation in partnership with Ukrainian coffee shops.

The funds raised will be directed towards psychosocial support, mentoring, and practical training to assist internally displaced teenagers and those from families facing challenging life circumstances. To this end, the informal education program "Community" will be implemented in the Kyiv region.

"Children, teenagers, and youth who are experiencing this war need comprehensive psychosocial support to adapt to new conditions, overcome traumatic experiences, and find resources for self-realization. The informal education program 'Community' that we plan to implement will include psychological assistance, mentoring, educational opportunities, and creative activities. This will create a safe environment for them where everyone can feel heard, understood, and valued. We are grateful to our partners for supporting our charity event and invite all caring individuals to join us during this special time for St. Nicholas Day. To participate, purchase coffee, coffee beans, or charity cookies at participating establishments," said Marjana Romaniak, director of the "Ridni" charitable foundation.

List of participating partners:

• Bookstore-coffeeshops of the Old Lion (Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Odesa);
• Coffee shop "World of Coffee" (Lviv, Kyiv);
• Coffee Lab (Lviv, Sambir, Drohobych, Truskavets, Ternopil, Sheptytsky);
• Restaurant "French Holidays";
• VAV Coffee Shop;
• Cafe "Chichka".

The event runs until December 4, 2024. More details about the conditions and locations of the event can be found on the website ridni.org.ua

The "Ridni" charitable foundation has been operating in Ukraine since 2012. Over the past 12 years, the foundation has implemented projects for children and families from vulnerable populations, supports two family-type children's homes in Lviv, and conducts vocational guidance and educational programs for orphans and children deprived of parental care. Since the onset of the full-scale war, the foundation has also been systematically supporting children and families who find themselves in difficult life circumstances and have been affected by the war.