Project “Firewood”: Warmth for the Most Remote Villages
Frost crept through the windowpanes, leaving delicate patterns on the glass. In the houses where people still remained, the last stockpile of firewood crackled in the stoves. Warmth was worth its weight in gold, as winter turned out to be harsher than expected.
This week, volunteers from the foundation set out once again—to deliver firewood to those in need. Their route took them through the Kharkiv region: Malynivka, Chuhuiv, Zolochiv district, Bohodukhiv—places where the cold was particularly unforgiving and staying warm depended entirely on outside help.
But the hardest journey lay ahead—to small villages nestled right along the border with Russia. Just ten kilometers away, the distant echoes of explosions could already be heard. There, no stores operated, no buses ran, and no lights shone in the houses, as electricity was cut off due to shelling. Many villages were completely abandoned—people had been evacuated to escape the danger.
Firewood was delivered where people still lived. In each of these villages, only a few families remained, holding on to their homes with unwavering determination. Volunteers carefully prioritized those in urgent need—elderly people living alone, families with small children, and those unable to gather firewood themselves.
The freezing nights were merciless—temperatures dropped to -15°C, and forecasts suggested winter would not relent anytime soon. People waited, scanning the horizon, hoping to see the approaching trucks. And when they finally appeared, the sense of relief was almost tangible.
Over the past week, 64 households received firewood. But the work was far from over—volunteers were preparing for another trip. They coordinated with the Bohodukhiv district administration, which helped with transportation to the most isolated areas. Large trucks couldn’t reach villages where roads had nearly disappeared, so smaller vehicles were used to deliver firewood to remote communities of just five or six families.
In total, the project has covered 118 households, delivering 236 cubic meters of firewood. This was more than just fuel—it was warmth to survive the winter. It was support that gave people strength to endure. Every log delivered meant another day with a burning stove and another spark of hope.
Kherson Region: Life on the Edge and Help Where It’s Needed Most
Home—it’s not just walls, not just a roof. It’s the place where you feel like yourself, where no explanations are needed. You don’t ask permission to stay; you just stay. But what happens when your home is on the front line?
Kherson is different. Here, there are no easy answers, no unnecessary questions. Kherson changes people. Those who have never seen war won’t understand. But those who have set foot here will never be the same again.
Every day, the city wails with sirens, trembles with explosions. Its residents live to the rhythm of war: “You might not wake up tomorrow,” “Keep your eyes on the sky,” “Evacuation at six,” “Stay safe.” These aren’t just words—they are the stark reality of those who have heard shells whistle over their heads.
We know those who refuse to leave their homes, even as the towns around them crumble into post-apocalyptic ruins. They stay not because they are fearless, but because they hold onto their past, their lives. To them, a home is not just a building—it’s part of their identity. We don’t ask why; we simply stand beside them.
That’s why the team of the “Step with Hope” International Charitable Foundation is always where the need is greatest. We don’t work for recognition—we work to save those who can still be saved and to support those who have already endured the worst.
Last week, we accomplished:
✔ Fed two abandoned animals left without owners. ✔ Fueled 12 generators to provide people with light and warmth. ✔ Conducted pest control in six buildings, including a large basement shelter. ✔ Met with a person whose house was hit by a shell—assessed the damage and planned assistance. ✔ Covered shattered windows with plastic sheeting to provide at least minimal protection from the cold. ✔ Delivered humanitarian aid to a distribution center to be allocated to those in greatest need.
We also met with a man pulled from the rubble. He miraculously survived, but his home no longer exists. Our conversation was not just about destruction but about how to help someone who has lost everything.
Kherson, Vovchansk, Pokrovsk, Avdiivka, Bakhmut—to some, these are just names on a map. To others, they are everything. As long as people remain here, so will we—where help is needed most.
Donetsk Region: Aid Under Fire
The trip was grueling. Roads were destroyed, and the situation in the region was deteriorating daily. It felt as though heavy clouds had settled over Donbas—both literal and emotional. People felt it too. Rumors spread faster than the wind, shelling became more frequent, and uncertainty gnawed at their spirits.
When we arrived, shelling began around 8:30 PM and lasted until dawn. Four direct hits. One at 10 PM knocked out power to the entire district. And we, the volunteers, experienced firsthand what it was like to live without light, without warmth, flinching at every explosion, bracing for what might come next.
In Dobropillia, where we traveled on the 8th, explosions were constant. There, artillery and bombings were part of daily life. “Shelling? Explosions? That’s it?” the locals asked, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. They had adapted. But can one ever truly get used to war?
Another growing problem—roads. They were deteriorating rapidly. The asphalt cracked, caved in, and what were once short trips now took hours. Heavy machinery left its mark, making once-accessible locations difficult to reach.
But the worst was the uncertainty. It ate away at people from the inside. They didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, where to run, how to survive. It was a tension that manifested in frustration, aggression, despair. Our mission was not just to deliver aid but to support them, to help them hold on. In such a reality, every reaction was valid. They just wanted to survive.
Kharkiv Region: Help Where It’s Needed
Bohodukhiv: Medical Equipment for the Hospital
Last week marked a significant step in supporting Kharkiv’s medical facilities—the first shipment of medical equipment arrived at the Bohodukhiv district hospital. Specialized hospital beds with mattresses and essential medical supplies were delivered.
Znamyanka: Assistance for Those in Need
In the village of Znamyanka, humanitarian food packages were distributed to displaced persons, pensioners, people with disabilities, low-income families, and those with many children.
“I am Mykhailo Petrovych, 64 years old, living in Znamyanka. In 2022, when the war started, I had to leave Kharkiv. My wife and I survive on our pensions and IDP assistance. Every week, we receive bread. Thank you, ‘Step with Hope’! Wishing you all health, success, and peace.”
“I am Iryna, a native of Nova Vodolaha. I am incredibly grateful for the help we receive every week!”
Krasnohrad: Bread for Those in Need
Displaced persons, people with disabilities, large families, pensioners, and the temporarily unemployed received assistance.
“Liudmyla Mykolaivna, 69, lives with her disabled husband. Their pensions are barely enough. She thanks the foundation for the timely help of bread!”
“Raisa Mykhailivna Honcharenko, 74, survives on a small pension. She is sincerely grateful for the support!”
Kharkiv, Kamyanka Yaruga, Mala Danylivka: Under Constant Attacks
The situation in Kharkiv is deteriorating. Daily explosions, relentless attacks, especially at night. Despite this, our team continues to work.
Last weekend, we managed to:
✔ Organize six children’s and youth gatherings, two tea meetings, and a charity lunch for socially vulnerable people. ✔ Host a general session for children and teenagers on the theme of “Dreams.” ✔ Provide a charity lunch for 40 people and hold an evening of board games for teenagers. ✔ Organize an educational session, “Discover the World,” where children explored the fascinating world of octopuses. ✔ Conduct a masterclass, “Tea Bombs,” where children created fragrant tea spheres with their own hands, decorated them beautifully, and took them home or gifted them. Their joy and smiles were the best reward. ✔ Continue our tea gatherings every Wednesday and Sunday, with up to 50 attendees.
Olha Ivanivna, 84 years old, an internally displaced person (IDP) from Bilopillia, Sumy region, expressed her gratitude to the charitable foundation for the warm welcome and for providing bread.
We remain where it’s most difficult. Where people are waiting for support. And we will not stop.
Dnipropetrovsk Region: Aid That Changes Lives
Nikopol: Restoring Vision and Supporting the Community
Over eight months last year, our vision restoration project reached 25 settlements in the Nikopol district: 22 villages, one city, and two towns. We returned to each community multiple times, helping those in greatest need.
During this period: ✔ 5,120 pairs of glasses were provided to the most vulnerable people. ✔ 20,000 kilometers of roads were traveled. ✔ In addition to glasses, we delivered food, water, hygiene products, sweets, and mobility aids for people with limited movement.
Last week: ✔ We distributed drinking water at our aid center to those under our care. ✔ We visited the village of Engels (Nikopol district) with the vision restoration project. Despite severe weather and power outages, 43 people received the help they needed. ✔ We provided mobility aids to those in urgent need. ✔ We delivered pillows and blankets to those lacking basic comfort.
Serhii’s Story
Serhii, a disabled pensioner and former long-haul truck driver, spent his life behind the wheel, dreaming of a peaceful retirement at home. But one trip changed everything—a blood clot caused him to lose consciousness while driving, leading to an accident that ended his career. After a long rehabilitation and surgery, he lost his memory and suffered irreversible vision loss.
Serhii can no longer recognize his loved ones in a crowd but identifies them by their voices. A friend took him in and offered him a job as a janitor. Yet, despite his condition, he repairs cars by sound, guiding mechanics with his hands. We support him in every way we can, helping him navigate life’s challenges.
Pavlohrad: A Difficult Situation
The city remains on edge, with residents facing constant struggles.
Mykhailo Oleksiyovych, 67, arrived in Pavlohrad from Lysychansk. His biggest challenge is housing—his entire pension goes toward rent. He has been attending our aid program for a long time and is deeply grateful for the support.
Samara, Magdalynivka, Cherkaska: Delivering Humanitarian Aid
This week, we organized trips to collect, transport, and distribute humanitarian aid: ✔ 80 food packages (canned goods, grains—300 kg total). ✔ Second-hand clothing and eyeglasses. ✔ Aid delivered to collective housing for IDPs in Cherkaska, Magdalynivka, and surrounding areas.
We continue moving forward, helping those who need it most.
Kryvyi Rih: A Network of Humanitarian Roads
From morning to night, from city to city—humanitarian vehicles never rest. This week’s routes formed an unbroken chain of support.
✔ Kryvyi Rih – Dnipro: Vehicles transported warm clothing for those forced to live under the sounds of explosions. Every kilogram of aid carries a story of humanity. ✔ Kryvyi Rih – Sofiivka: Bread as a symbol of life. In the House of Mercy and among displaced persons, it was received with gratitude—for some, it was the only meal of the day. ✔ Kryvyi Rih – Radushne: Again, bread in the hands of those who need it most. Its scent recalls a time of peace, when the sky was silent.
Throughout the city and district, volunteers work tirelessly—distributing warm clothes, providing generators, bedding, and stoves—everything necessary for survival.
✔ 4,200 kilograms of aid. But if we weighed all the emotions, struggles, and hopes, the number would be even greater.
✔ Most importantly, 80 people received psycho-social support. Sometimes, a kind word is enough to save someone.
Kamianske: A City That Embraces Its People
Kamianske moves to the rhythm of aid, support, and warmth. Here, every volunteer’s action, every humanitarian vehicle’s route, is part of a greater movement of kindness that never stops.
In the morning, the scent of fresh bread fills the streets. It is delivered to those who need it most—on both sides of the river, to homes where it is awaited with hope. It is more than just a loaf; it is a symbol of care, a reminder that no one is forgotten.
Then come the humanitarian routes—bringing warm clothing, essential items, and food. Volunteers do more than transport supplies; they bring relief, infusing every package with a piece of their hearts.
The charity dining hall opens its doors, bringing together a diverse group of people—IDPs, elderly individuals, those facing hardship. Here, they don’t just receive food; they feel a sense of belonging, of being seen and understood.
The children’s center, “Smile,” echoes with laughter. Here, children forget the harsh realities of life, playing, creating, and connecting. This is where small dreams are born, and most importantly, where faith is restored—that even in difficult times, childhood should remain bright.
Laundry services, a massage room—things that seem routine. But for IDPs who have lost stability, even these are luxuries. Each small comfort helps restore a sense of normalcy.
Programs like “Strength in Weakness” and “Healing the Soul’s Wounds” provide more than just a space to talk about pain. They teach resilience—how to hold on when it feels like there is nothing left to cling to.
The creative hub “Berehynia” is a sanctuary where art heals. A place where emotions are transformed into paintings, music, and poetry. Sometimes, the best medicine is creating something of your own—turning pain into beauty.
Kamianske is more than a city. It is a space of support, where care is tangible, where humanity shines through in the smallest details.
Anatolii, 50 years old. He fled Pokrovsk when the attacks became unbearable. A blast wave tore off his home’s roof, plunging everything into darkness. With a friend, he set off into the unknown, searching for safety. Now, in Kamianske, they rent a place, and though life hasn’t become easier, they are not alone.
“Thank you to the sponsors for the bread, for thinking of us in these times.”
Bread, a word, a gesture of support—these are the things that make people stronger, even in the darkest times.