Have you ever thought that items we no longer use could become vital help for someone else? The Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) community turned this thought into a real initiative – 200 warm blankets from the University’s Student House were delivered to Ukraine, where they will help soldiers protect themselves from the cold as winter approaches.

The idea was born in the MRU Student House

The initiative to donate unused university blankets came from Nijolė Jansonienė, Head of the MRU Student House group. In her regular communication with Ukrainian war refugees, she learned about the difficult conditions on the frontline as winter approaches and suggested donating the university’s unused blankets.

“We had many well-preserved blankets that were not being used. I thought they could be useful where they are needed most – in Ukraine,” said N. Jansonienė.

The support was delivered together with cars

The idea received the support of the university’s leadership and was implemented with the help of Rector’s Advisor and Stage Director of the Department of Culture and Arts, Julius Dautartas. At the end of August, when Ukrainian soldiers arrived in Lithuania to collect cars donated by Lithuanians, they also received MRU’s contribution.

A total of 200 blankets were loaded into the vehicles and have already reached Ukraine.

Students also contributed

MRU students from Ukraine – Anhelina Nakonechna and Yehor Stariuk – also joined the loading efforts. Stariuk, whose father was killed on the frontline, emphasized the importance of this support.

“I am grateful to MRU for the assistance that I had the opportunity to witness and be a part of. The university donated a large number of blankets to the Ukrainian military. This is an important gesture. Winter is approaching, and our people need resources to stay warm on the battlefield,” said Y. Stariuk.

Community solidarity

According to the organizers, this initiative shows that the MRU community is able to respond quickly to real social needs. The university not only provides opportunities for students and staff to engage in socially responsible activities but also fosters solidarity and cooperation among different community members. This is not the first time MRU has organized support initiatives for Ukraine – the university community has previously collected donations of food, essential goods, and funds for children affected by the war. At present, the university premises also host the “Gravitas Schola” general education school for Ukrainian refugee children. Initiatives such as the donation of blankets to Ukrainian soldiers provide tangible assistance to those who need it most and at the same time strengthen community ties, giving meaning to the everyday work of students and staff as contributions of responsible members of society.