KHERSON
Our team in Kherson continues to work and help people. The team of the EO “IBF “Step with Hope” is well-known in the regional center and throuhout the region as a whole. This week’s work is proof of that.
We were approached by people from the small village of Nadniprovske, located 5 km from Kherson. The familiar problems occurred: when cleaning the floor to create a bomb shelter, many fleas were revealed. It was impossible to stay there and work had to be stopped.
But people learned that there was a solution: to invite our team for help. We arrived promptly and treated the premises. The next day, people resumed equipping the bomb shelter in their home.
Another flea treatment was arranged at another location, but we had to postpone the help because when we arrived we found the premises needed to be prepared. Upstair was cluttered, with cardboard boxes everywhere. These needed to be cleared out to make way the disinsection effective. We rescheduled the treatment, and they gave us gloves and suits in return.
DONETSK REGION
POKROVSK, NOVOGRODIVKA, SELIDOVE
This week saw evacuations from Pokrovsk and nearby villages taking place. Six people were successfully relocated to a safer area. People are scared, confused, and don’t know what to do because they don’t understand where they can go and where they will live.
We have provided assistance to evacuees from Pokrovsk, Novogrodivka, and Selidove. And we continue to provide this vital support. We are also helping a shelter in the Novomoskovsk district, where 60 people currently live. We are working closely with the local administration of the Novomoskovsk and Synelnykove districts.
KOSTIANTYNIVKA, DRUZHKIVKA
This week, we had a difficult trip towards Kostiantynivka. Near Pokrovsk, an enemy drone tracked us for five minutes. Out car broke-down, but we continued to help people despite the adversity and we returned home safely afterward. In addition, there were heavy shellings in Kostiantynivka this time. The military informed us that artillery was firing indiscriminately, advising us to be cautious. One shell hit just a few streets away from the distribution point, but thankfully, our team was unhurt. Before that, a strike in the center of Kostiantynivka caused people to come to us for help and many shared their stories with us:
– Svitlana came home from the store but felt the urge to go to the post office immediately. She didn’t understand why she felt that way. As soon as she left and turned the corner of the building, there was a strike in her yard. Her apartment was severely damaged. Had she stayed at home for another five minutes, she would have died. She is now in need of everything and thanks the EO “IBF “Step with Hope” for their help.
– Nadiya’s daughter recently gave birth. But, due to family circumstances, they cannot yet leave. She thanks us for the diapers.
– Olena Hryhorivna: A strike occurred in her yard, damaging almost all buildings. Windows were shattered and boarded up with chipboard. We provided her with food supplies. She too, is in need of everything.
KHARKIV REGION
CHUHUIV AND KYSCHYIVKA
Volunteers, with the help of our partners Ukraine TrustChain, are providing humanitarian assistance in the form of spring water deliveries to the residents of Chuhuiv. This is currently one of the most pressing issues in Chuhuiv, which we are gradually addressing.
MEREFA, BALAKLIIA, KRASNOHRAD, PERVOMAISKYI, NOVA VODOLAHA, ZNAMIANKA, KHARKIV
Pensioners, people with disabilities, the unemployed, refugees, large families, and displaced persons received humanitarian bread in all these regions. People are grateful for the assistance provided.
KHARKIV, KAMYANA YARUHA, MALA DANYLIVKA
This week included several trips: Kharkiv-Dnipro-Kharkiv, Petropillia-Kharkiv-Petropillia, Mala Danylivka-Derhachi-Kharkiv.
One day, we held a meeting called “Interesting Facts About Cats” for teenagers and children. And on another day, there was an activity for children and teenagers. And on Sunday, we organized fitness activities for teenagers and children. We are, in addition, preparing for the beginning of the school year.
Additionally, we continue to provide people with opportunities to charge their gadgets and flashlights, take a shower, do laundry, etc.
Simultaneously, one of our teams traveled to the village of Petropillia. We received a request from the residents of this settlement. In Shevchenkivskyi district, there are eight villages with 250 children who are, sadly, neglected. These children run to the front line to ask soldiers for balls to play with. Our team quickly raised money to meet these needs. On arrival, we found that other volunteers already bought the balls, so we focused on purchasing of board games, which we handed over to the administration on Sunday.
DNIPROPETROVSK REGION
NIKOPOL
This week, we revisited the village of Tokivske, where 1,300 people currently live. We were there a few months ago. Now, representatives of the administration asked us to provide assistance to the residents. They organized the necessary conditions for us at the local hospital.
A monument to Pavlov, which miraculously escaped decommunization, greets us at the entrance to the local clinic.
When we visit the villages, it is painful to see the state of our “reformed” healthcare system. The five villages share one medical point, and this lacks specialists and even the most basic equipment. The lack of roads costs precious time and lives when transporting critically ill patients. This is the reality on the ground.
In Tokivske, we provided assistance to local IDPs with children and other vulnerable residents of the village, serving 65 families.
In addition to our work in the region, we continue to provide assistance from our help center in Nikopol. This week, we distributed drinking water and food to those under our care.
We deliver water to those who cannot come to get it.
Over the past week, we have distributed 40 food packages, 100 pairs of glasses, 2,000 liters of drinking water, and 20 packages of sweets. We reached about 200 families in total.
KAMIANSKE
This week, we received many words of gratitude in Kamianske:
Liubov, 67 years old, from Vuhledar, Donetsk region said: “ My hometown stands as a fortress, unbroken but completely destroyed. In 2022, volunteers evacuated me and my husband to Dnipro, and then to Kamianske. I am now renting an apartment on my own because I have now buried my husband here. My four sons are defending our country in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I am very grateful to the foundation, to the sponsors, and volunteers for their support and care. I wish everyone health and a peaceful sky.”
Nadiya, 58 years old, from Toretsk, Donetsk region, said: “My children left in 2022 with their grandchildren, but my husband and I kept waiting for something. My daughter insisted that we drop everything and move to a safe place in Kamianske. At first, we rented an apartment, but with seven family members, it was very inconvenient, so we rented a house. I want to express my gratitude to the sponsors who help displaced people and those with disabilities. We feel a deep gratitude to you for your care.”
There was also an art therapy group for children in Kamianske. The theme of the session was modeling, and the result of the collective work was called “A Gift for Grandma”.
