The warmth of the holiday belongs to everyone

Community collaboration for children’s homes

The Kuckó Volunteer Program is a volunteer initiative that is in close contact with all Children’s Home Centers in Budapest, Pest and Nógrád counties, and is currently present in 8 children’s and residential homes with about 40 volunteers. In 2015, they started packing with 10 volunteers and 58 packages, and last year they made 1,200 packages with nearly 100 packing and delivery volunteers. The initiative is also special because they start assessing the needs of the homes’ managers for the given year in September, so they can help with what is really needed at Christmas.

Their activities are not limited to the Advent period; in addition to their everyday work, the volunteers work all year round to improve the lives of the residents of the children’s home through experiences. Hairdressing, birthday parties, KuckóNap outdoors, cleaning the children’s home, dog-assisted therapy, KuckóHősök Award Ceremony (where child protection workers are awarded), tutoring, family photography, boxing, soccer training, dance lessons, cooking together, Santa Claus’s tour are just a few of the many activities.

At home in the warmth of love

Residents of children’s homes – who were previously removed from their families or whose parents decided to place them in a children’s home due to difficult circumstances – are given the opportunity to spend the holidays together, based on the guardian’s decision. Despite the difficult financial circumstances, it is a huge help for families that they are not waiting for an empty table. This year, Kuckó volunteers are working hard for the 10th time to put together packages filled with holiday treats for children in state care who are spending the holidays at home with their families in modest circumstances. They are also preparing food and hygiene packages, as these are the ones that are in greatest need.