For the third year in a row, Ukrainians are celebrating one of the main national holidays, Independence Day, in the midst of a full-scale war.
Surviving such a difficult time is not easy for everyone, but it is most difficult for elderly people and people with disabilities, who often cannot cope with difficulties due to loneliness, illness or poverty. It is these categories of people who are taken care of by the staff of the Drohobych City Territorial Centre for Social Services (social services), who, on the eve of the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence, with the support of the City Council, prepared four hundred food packages for their clients.
The food parcels included the most essential foodstuffs: buckwheat, rice, pasta, sugar and oil. Social workers delivered the packages to single people in different parts of the Drohobych community and congratulated them on the upcoming holiday. The village elders helped to deliver the food to the seriously ill people at home.
The centre’s specialists also organised a literary and musical performance “My heart is where Ukraine is!” for the clients who are in its care, which took place on 23 August in the reading room of the Drohobych Central City Library named after Vyacheslav Chornovil.
At the beginning of the event, the audience paid tribute to the heroes who fell for the freedom and independence of Ukraine with a minute of silence.
Maria Lyutik, Director of the Drohobych City Territorial Centre for Social Services (provision of social services), addressed the wards with a welcoming speech and expressed gratitude to the soldiers who are defending the state and its sovereignty at the front for the opportunity to celebrate Ukraine’s 33rd birthday and thanked the elderly people who contribute to the common victory over the aggressor: “They knit socks for the soldiers, peel nuts for energy bars, and prepare materials for weaving camouflage nets.
We are living in a difficult time, but it is in these difficult moments that we realise the value of our independence, freedom and unity as never before. On the occasion of the Independence Day of Ukraine, I wish us all victory and a peaceful sky for our Motherland. May our heroes return home safe and sound! Peace and harmony to you! And remember that the staff of the Drohobych Territorial Centre for Social Services will always be there to support you!”, , said Maria Liutyk.
During the concert programme, representatives of the younger and older generations demonstrated their talents with songs and poems on patriotic themes. The audience gave applause to the members of the Kalynonka choir for performing well-known songs and modern compositions based on the words of artists who were persecuted for their love of Ukraine.
Everyone enjoyed the theatrical skit dedicated to the honouring of the State Flag, which was performed by Solomiya Zhyvka, a student of Drohobych Music School No. 1, and Nina Palienko, a regular reciter at the events. The invitees were moved to tears by the prayer for Ukraine read by Maria Kyrylych. A patriotic poem by Vasyl Symonenko made everyone feel better. Poetic lines that have not lost their relevance to this day were recited by Myroslav Romaniak and Lyubomyra Mykhailyuk.
The event ended with a joint performance of the Ukrainian national anthem.
The wards of the Tercentre thanked the organisers of the concert for the wonderful creative atmosphere that prevailed at the event.