We have been giving Christmas presents to visually impaired and disadvantaged children for the fifth time. Our angels bring more and more packages to the Christmas tree year after year; with their help, this year we made the holidays brighter for one hundred children. The children live in Pest, Borsod, Heves and Baranya counties, and about half of them are visually impaired.

The one hundred children we surprised on December 18, 2025 live in Pest, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Heves and Baranya counties. They were selected with the involvement of teachers, rehabilitation specialists, and family support staff. The initiative started in early December on our foundation’s Facebook page, and each child found an “angel” within an hour. Angels are volunteers who, through our foundation’s mediation, deliver the gifts so that as many children’s Christmas wishes as possible can come true.

We held the festive event in Miskolc. The children happily unwrapped their presents, then played with our guide and therapy dogs, and finally they tried how a guide dog leads while their eyes are covered. Unfortunately, due to travel, illness, or other hindering reasons, not every child could be there; their gifts were delivered by post.

What was placed under the children’s shared Christmas tree? 

This year, the youngest child to receive a gift was four months old; the parents requested baby formula, diapers, and baby toys, while the oldest child was seventeen. Most of the wishes were for toys, warm winter clothing, and school supplies. The wishlist included sweets, storybooks, soft toys, coloring books, creative toys, as well as school backpacks, winter coats, and winter shoes. Every year there is a request that helps in learning a trade; this year, a girl asked for cosmetic tools.

The idea for the event came from Balogh Ádám, the psychologist at the Baráthegyi Guide Dog School, whose guide dog helped deliver the gifts.

This Christmas, the children were very happy with the gifts. For me, it is a joy that on this day these children can truly be children. As an organizer, it is happiness to hear them cheer: “this is what I wished for, this is my favorite color, my favorite chocolate.” It is a feeling that is indescribable. This celebration is a huge treasure

– said Ádám Balogh.

 

The organizer said that interest is so great that next year, according to his plans, we will expand the wishlist. He added that over the past five years a fully volunteer network has grown up alongside the foundation’s initiative, and for them as organizers it is important to experience the joy of giving together with the volunteers. Thanks to this, in the first year fifty children could be happy, and last year and this year we already gave gifts to one hundred children.

Watch our video to see what a great time we had at our foundation’s center in Miskolc when we hosted them: https://youtu.be/tq6itPkvRCQ 

Merry Christmas!

For 19 years, the Baráthegy Guide Dog School has been supporting the lives of people with visual impairments by training guide dogs, operating primarily through donations and 1% personal income tax contributions.

Thank you for your donations!

 It is very important to us that many private individuals stand by our side and contribute to the training of guide dogs with their support. We are also pleased to share that an increasing number of companies are making the same decision.

 If you would like to contribute to the creation of even more guide dog partnerships, you can support us in several ways. Our central bank account number: OTP Bank – 11734004-20466859
Donations via bank card, webshop, or phone.
Corporate donations and partnerships.
With gratitude,
the team of the Baráthegy Guide Dog School.