KHERSON REGION
KHERSON
Lunch was interrupted by a powerful explosion one block away from us. “Take cover!!!” Another explosion. A pause… And then the third missile hit. All three landed somewhere very close. Silence… we came out of our shelters. We saw a fire at a distance to the right of the house. The street was in ruins, the wires of the power lines torn off, and direct hits in a private home, a multi-story building, and a vehicle.
The State Emergency Service arrived to extinguish the fire. Then went a drone and repeated shelling. Three rescue workers were wounded. People dragged them to the shelter. Drones again… We were breathlessly waiting for the silence.
Then was the arrival of medics. The wounded were taken away. Yet the fire was still raging. We started trying to extinguish it on our own. Another drone attack – back to the shelter! We waited for a while and then continued to fight with the fire and help our fellow residents.
We are installing generators for those left without electricity so that people can have light until the repair work is completed. The team of the EO “IBF “Step with Hope” is always there when we are needed. Sometimes it is so unexpected, but that is the whole point. You have to be ready to be there for those who need your help at any moment.
Over the last week, we have:
— refueled 12 generators;
— fed a dog for a week;
— conducted disinfestation of 8 premises, including 6 large basements;
— conducted disinfestation of 4 premises, including 2 large basements;
— conducted disinfestation of 3 rooms, including 2 large basements;
— given poison for disinfestation to 1 person;
— arranged water fights with ice cream for children;
— taken back 1 dehumidifier.
Water fights for children were also organized this current week. The children were delighted, and the ice cream at the end of the event added even more joy!
AGRO PROJECT
Finally, the time has come when we can enjoy the harvest obtained from the seeds and seedlings! It is so rewarding to see grateful people who, despite the martial situation in the country and the inability to plan, managed to plant and grow vegetables for their families. We are grateful to our partners, Ukraine TrustChain, for their assistance.
DONETSK REGION
KRAMATORSK AND SLOVIANSK
From July 19 to 21, a trip was made to the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, Donetsk region, in order to distribute humanitarian aid. The aid included bread distribution, as well as distribution of humanitarian products that had been brought in earlier.
We also continue visiting retired women who need our help. This week we visited an 83-year-old lady. In her room she could not reach the top shelves of her chiffoniers, covered with lots of dust and dirt, to clean them. So we decided to help her out and tidy up her room. We aimed to support her as much as we could. We listened as she talked because such people need to be listened to. They need to see at least that they are not alone.
KHARKIV REGION
KHARKIV, KAMIANA YARUGA, MALA DANYLIVKA
This week, we assisted people in need and held classes for children.
We also keep providing people with the opportunity to recharge their gadgets and flashlights, take a shower, do laundry, etc. regularly.
DNIPROPETROVSK REGION
NIKOPOL
Another blessed week of our activities. As before, we were advancing in all directions available to us. We are responsive to the signals for help coming to us from all sides. We are happy about the opportunity to be useful.
We remember our first timid trips to the villages as if they were yesterday. None of us knew or understood how to do anything properly and effectively. We did not know how to communicate with people. Today, the situation is completely different. We get constant calls from people who are waiting for us.
Last week we visited Hrushivka again. There were a lot of people who wanted to see an ophthalmologist. Thus, this was our third trip there in a row. The doctor has seen about 320 people in this village.
In addition to eyeglasses, everyone was given rice on the way out, which brought the people joy and high spirits.
We also visited the town of Marganets, supporting people that needed some food and our participation in their lives.
We visited a family of two, where an elderly grandmother, called Nina, is raising her orphaned grandson whose parents committed suicide. In her old age, she prays to God that she will live to see his adulthood and be able to hand him in someone’s good hands.
We never forget about our Nikopol center for assistance. At present, they have raised the water limit for our team and we are successfully using this opportunity.
We are doing everything in our power to help and support people.
Over the past week, we have distributed 2,000 liters of drinking water, 150 eyeglasses, and 15 food packages.
PAVLOGRAD
We made trips according to the route of Pavlohrad – Dnipro – Pavlohrad – Ternivka to receive, transport, and distribute humanitarian aid in the form of clothes for men and bread in the amount of 450 pieces.
In total, 410 IDPs, disabled people, and people in need received assistance.
SINELNYKOVE
This week a lot has been done here and we received the following sincere thanks from Olga Mikhailivna, who came from Avdiivka with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter:
“Nothing is waiting for us at home, everything is destroyed. We are so grateful! Your care is so sweet and precious! It is hard to express our feelings. Thank you very much for everything you are doing for us.”
KRYVYI RIH
This week we have been actively supporting the Night Shelter.
KAMIANSKE
The work of the volunteer center in the Kamianske district was very active.
As always, we distributed humanitarian aid, provided psychological assistance to those who attended the “Healing You Soul Wounds” program, and continued and then completed the “Journey to FriendlyLand” children’s camp.
We also received several letters of thanks:
“My name is Mykhailo, I am a 69-year-old pensioner, an IDP from Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. I came to Kamianske with my family by evacuation train in August of 2022. Our house was almost half destroyed, only the walls remained. Thank you to the sponsors and your team for your attention and the wonderful eyeglasses I have just received. I wish you all health and a peaceful sky.”
“My name is Oleksiy, 54 years old. I am a resident of Stakhanov, Luhansk region. I left my home city with my family in 2016 when it was under occupation. Our house was looted after that. In the town of Kamianske we used to rent an apartment, and now we have taken out a loan to buy a place of our own. We are very grateful to the sponsors for their support with bread. It is very crucial for us, the IDPs.”