KHERSON
Kherson is on the line.
The week began with car repairs once again. We’re replacing the diesel filter.
We’re also dealing with cockroaches. It’s very hot in our suits, and the guys are completely soaked.
We organized water fights for the children in Kherson again. This week, our team also had to go to the village of Naddnipryanske, where people started setting up a bomb shelter where they could hide during enemy shelling. We’ve exterminated the fleas, but we still need to spread poison for the mice. It’s impossible to do everything at once. After flea treatment, at least a week should pass before we can poison the mice. If done immediately, the mice simply won’t eat the poison. When we returned to the seventh building, people came out to us and began to hug us. We were a bit surprised, but the head of the house explained: the night before, there was very heavy shelling of this village, and the residents of the building spent the entire night in the bomb shelter. After our treatment, they were able to stay in the shelter without any issues, and the little children didn’t get a single flea bite.
This is very inspiring and gratifying, as our team at the “Step with Hope” Charitable Foundation in Kherson, in cooperation with the Ukraine TrustChain team, can do such necessary things to help people in these difficult times. We installed a dehumidifier in the bomb shelter to remove moisture.
AGROPROJECT
We are very pleased when we can see the fruits of our help. Every time we receive your photos, we understand that the agroproject was organized for a good reason.
DONETSK REGION
KOSTIANTYNIVKA & DRUZHKIVKA
The situation in Donetsk region is tough. Columns of refugees are coming from Myrnohrad and Pokrovsk. But despite this, we continue to work.
In Druzhkivka, with the support of Restoring Vision, we distributed glasses to everyone in need, and we organized a real celebration for children and teachers in honor of the start of the new school year. The children received school kits and sweets. We heard many touching stories.
Valentyna’s house was damaged by a shelling. The windows were blown out, many things were damaged, and her glasses were broken. Since there are no working optics shops in Druzhkivka, it’s hard to buy new glasses. Ordering them online is an option, but it involves additional shipping costs. She thanks us for helping her choose new glasses.
At the request of the parents, we evacuated two children, one from Kostiantynivka and the other from Druzhkivka. Just after we left, the center of Kostiantynivka was subjected to brutal shelling, and people died. But we managed to get out in time.
KRAMATORSK & SLOVYANSK
This time, we delivered humanitarian aid in the form of food products to Kramatorsk. Everyone in need received help.
KHARKIV REGION
ZNAMIANKA
“My name is Olha Cherinets, I’m 43 years old. I live with my daughter, who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. We live on benefits as I have no opportunity to work because there’s no one to leave my daughter with. I sincerely thank you for the bread! Every week, I receive two loaves, which are enough for us for a week. Thank you for your help!”
CHUHUIV & KOCHETOK
This time, with the support of our partners Ukraine TrustChain, the aid was received by internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, large families, pensioners, and temporarily unemployed persons.
“My name is Olena Ivanivna Makarova, a single mother. I am very grateful to the volunteers of the ‘Step with Hope’ Charitable Foundation for helping us in these difficult times. Thank you so much!”
KHARKIV, KAMIANKA YARUHA, MALA DANYLIVKA
On Friday, we held a meeting on “Relationships with Parents” for teenagers and children. On Saturday, we prepared with the kids and teens for the start of the school year. On Sunday, we held an event in the park on the theme “Five Islands of Love”, along with a circus program and cotton candy for the children. In Kharkiv, we continue to provide people with the opportunity to charge their gadgets and flashlights, take showers, do laundry, etc.
DNIPROPETROVSK REGION
NIKOPOL
This week, we worked within the limits of our resources. As before, we provided assistance to people in all areas of our activities. This week, we sent help to the Pavliuk family in Novomoskovsk. There is a girl named Kseniia in this family who is bedridden. We are also continuing to work in our assistance center, distributing drinking water to many people living nearby.
We made a second trip to Chystopil, where we assisted about 50 people with glasses, with the support of our partners Restoring Vision.
There are many people living here, and there’s a need for help. Now we’re seeing 70 people instead of the 120 we used to, as it matches our resources and time.
Another factor is the road. It takes more time to travel back and forth than it does to receive 70 people. It’s hard to even call it a road. It’s just a direction — the asphalt disappears, and there are only rocks mixed with dirt and clay. We have to push through this.
We’re glad we can help these people because for some, it’s their last hope. We also cheered up the local children by giving them sweets. In addition to sweets, we distributed food to those who needed it.
PAVLOHRAD
In addition to distributing humanitarian aid and clothing, we also organized a “Watermelon Party” for the children. At this event, besides drawing watermelon slices with their eyes closed, we, of course, enjoyed the tasty watermelon and discussed topics that interested the children.
SYNELNYKOVE
This week was filled with the distribution of food packages. A total of 120 food packages were distributed. We also helped a large family by purchasing backpacks and shoes for the children before the new school year.
KRYVYI RIH
In Kryvyi Rih, we worked effectively in two areas of activity for the “Step with Hope” Charitable Foundation: humanitarian and psycho-social.
We organized the delivery of medical equipment to the city’s hospitals, a trip for psychological help training, and provided psychological support to groups and individuals.
The total weight of the aid transported was about 2700 kg.
In addition, we organized classes for children: “Generosity” and “Our Good Ukraine”, where we learned to be kind to each other. During this time, the older group of children participated in eco-painting on the theme of “Environmental Culture”.
For adults, there was a meeting from the “Healing the Wounds of the Soul” series, where we learned to heal our souls.
NOVOMOSKOVSK
In Novomoskovsk this week, we also prepared children for school and held an intellectual game “Erudite” on the topic “How I Spent My Summer.” Younger children reflected on “My Happiest Day.” An art therapy meeting where we created paintings from millet was also very productive. Previously, the children had been introduced to creativity in the class “The World of Beauty,” where they made photo frames. Overall, the week was creative and active. All these events were held with the support of our partner “MCC.”
KAMIANSKE
In Kamianske this week, there was a “Healing the Wounds of the Soul” training, the women’s group “Berehynia” was active, and the children’s center “Smile” welcomed children and helped distract them from the realities of war. The work of the massage room also yielded results, and the humanitarian effort was enhanced by free lunches, distribution of food packages, and laundry services.
We received feedback: “My name is Liudmyla, I’m 58 years old, and I’m from Mariinka, Donetsk region. My children and I waited a long time for our city to be liberated from occupation, but tragedy struck — a shell landed directly in the basement where we were hiding. Thank God we survived, but my son suffered a concussion. In November 2023, volunteers evacuated us to Kurakhove, and then to acquaintances in Kyiv. Now we are in Kamianske, renting an apartment. We have nowhere to return to as our house was completely destroyed (down to the foundation). This is the first time we’ve received such good help, and I want to express my gratitude to the sponsors who haven’t abandoned us in this difficult time. Peace to everyone.”
In the psycho-social direction, work was also in full swing. A children’s group visited the “Brother Rabbit” exhibition of rabbits in Kamianske. A big thank you to the organizers for the unforgettable impressions given to the children. There was also a culinary master class on “Apple Pie in Three Glasses.”
