Kherson Region – Kherson
This week, in addition to daily disinfection work, we helped people affected by the terrible shelling. Mrs. Anya, a woman with a disability, lives near what used to be the largest volunteer hub in the city of Kherson. This winter, three S-300 missiles struck the hub. The woman sustained serious injuries but, thankfully, survived. One of her legs was pierced through and is still healing. It is very difficult for her to move on her own. Additionally, her apartment became infested with cockroaches, and she couldn’t do anything about it. So, she reached out to the volunteer team of “Step with Hope” Charitable Foundation. We came, treated the apartment, and she will no longer see any insects. We left her our phone number and told her she could contact us with any questions. She was very moved and grateful to our team. We, in turn, understand that it’s for people like her that we are in Kherson. We won’t stop; we continue to move forward.
Donetsk Region – Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka
Kostyantynivka. The situation is very difficult. There are increasing food shortages in the stores, and shelves are becoming more and more empty. The area where bread is distributed operates only two hours a day. On Saturday, a new type of drone was shot down nearby. The city is regularly shelled by artillery and KABs.
Friday: One family was evacuated to Sloviansk. We helped them move their modest belongings.
Saturday: 100 loaves of bread were distributed to IDPs, the disabled, and low-income pensioners.
Nadiya Ivanivna thanked us for the bread. Because the kiosk is only open for two hours, she doesn’t always manage to buy it. She expressed deep gratitude to the fund and its sponsors for their help and care.Druzhkivka. 100 loaves of bread distributed to IDPs, the disabled, and low-income pensioners.
Lyubov Viktorivna is battling cancer. She has undergone 14 chemotherapy sessions! Her condition is not improving, but she does not give up. There is a need for everything, especially for expensive and hard-to-find medications. Additionally, adult diapers are needed. Even a small loaf of bread is a big help. She thanks us for the care and support.
Kramatorsk, Sloviansk
The situation in these cities has worsened significantly. In Kostyantynivka, people have started to leave because the city is under constant shelling. There isn’t a single day without explosions. If Kostyantynivka is bombed daily and multiple times, Kramatorsk is just starting to experience it. During a meeting, there were four explosions near where we were located, causing the windows to rattle. Then, at 5 AM the next day, there was a very powerful explosion that shook the building. We tensed up, expecting more explosions, but thankfully, there was only one strike.
When we were leaving at 8 AM, the city was covered in smoke, and a thick column of smoke was rising from the impact site. It seemed like a strong hit, as there were many ambulances headed in that direction, raising concerns that there might be casualties.
The situation is very complicated and is getting worse every week. We don’t know what will happen next. The main need right now is for small household kits, including laundry detergent, cleaning agents, shampoo, and possibly soap. While food packages are being distributed somehow, household chemicals are nowhere to be found. People desperately need household cleaning supplies because they are much more expensive than food.
Kharkiv Region – Znam’yanka
The situation in our region has not changed significantly over the week. Distant shelling can still be heard. The internally displaced people (IDPs) who moved to our village earlier are still staying and have not returned home.
Last week, we received 100 food packages from the “Step with Hope” Charitable Foundation. The people who received the aid were sincerely grateful to God and the Foundation.
There remains an unresolved issue with diapers for children. Many families with children, who were forced to leave their homes, are in urgent need of diapers and hygiene products.
This week, people received loaves of bread and more food packages. Their eyes shone with joy when they received the aid. They said that nowadays, there are very few foundations left that continue to help those in need.
“My name is Ksenia Volodymyrivna, I’m 44 years old. I live with my family in the village of Znam’yanka. I live with my husband, my 4-year-old child, and my mother, who is a second-degree disability pensioner. Every week, we go to pick up loaves of fresh, fragrant bread. We are sincerely grateful for this help. We wish health and God’s blessings to the “Step with Hope” Charitable Foundation.
Merefa
We haven’t forgotten about this town either. Internally displaced people from Vovchansk and Kupyansk are very grateful for the help and support during this difficult time from “Step with Hope” Charitable Foundation and its sponsors.
Balakliya
This week, we distributed bread and food packages. People are very thankful for the free bread and groceries, and they are grateful to everyone who supports the needy during these challenging times.
Krasnohrad
This week, assistance was provided to IDPs, the disabled, large families, pensioners, and the temporarily unemployed.
Svitlana Oleksandrivna, 65, an IDP from Luhansk region, said that after the full-scale war began, she had to leave her home. Government aid is very small, and a lot of money is spent on renting housing. She is very grateful for the bread provided by “Step with Hope” Charitable Foundation.
The situation has not improved over the week; many people still need food. IDPs from the war zones continue to require support. As much as possible, we are trying to meet people’s needs.
Kharkiv – Kam’yana Yaruha, Mala Danylivka
The situation this week has improved. There were strikes, but not as frequently as the week before.
We are very glad that in this region, we can continue distributing bread. We also continued distributing eyeglasses.
In addition, meetings were held for children and teenagers. We conducted art therapy sessions where the children drew their “inner creatures” and their “inner trees.” Our team carefully analyzed each drawing.
Overall, our team held four meetings for children and teenagers.
However, there are still special needs. Psychologists are needed to work with parents and children, as the war is taking a heavy toll on their psychological and emotional well-being.
Dnipropetrovsk Region – Nikopol
Despite everything, we continue to work, doing everything possible for the residents of the much-suffering city of Nikopol and the surrounding villages.
This week, we traveled to Loshkarivka. The road there was very difficult, leading to constant car repairs. Naturally, more time was spent on the road than on helping people. If we served 100 people in two hours, the road took five hours. And such roads are common throughout the Nikopol district. The average speed on these roads is 5-10 km per hour.
We served people in the local hospital, which has become the only medical center for several nearby villages. There are very few specialists left who can see patients and provide medical assistance. We managed to serve 100 people.
During the week, we also worked productively both at our assistance center and outside of it. We continue to distribute drinking water, which we receive from “Step with Hope” Charitable Foundation. The 3 tons of drinking water provided to us were distributed without any leftovers during the week.
Over the week, we distributed 3,000 liters of drinking water, 30 food packages, and 150 pairs of eyeglasses.
Pokrov, Tokivske
The communities of Pokrov and Tokivske distributed 130 loaves of bread, primarily to residents of Kherson region who have lost almost everything. They are incredibly grateful for the bread and the attention they are receiving. They are so happy when we bring them bread, praising it for being good, filling, and long-lasting. They are very thankful to those who care for them.
Pavlohrad
Pavlohrad continues to receive internally displaced people from evacuation zones. This week, we managed to help a large family where the mother came with her children. We were able to provide food and clothing assistance. She was very grateful, and this inspired us.
There were no significant difficulties with the trip or the distribution of humanitarian aid, but we heard a touching story.
Svitlana arrived from Avdiivka in 2018. Due to constant and severe shelling, staying there became impossible. Svitlana is a lonely pensioner with a minimal pension. Housing is very expensive, so she has changed residences 8 times due to rising rent prices. She is very grateful for the material and psychological assistance.
Kryvyi Rih
This week, we received many expressions of gratitude.
“I am Halyna Mykhailivna, and I receive bread in Kryvyi Rih. I am grateful that you care for people during such difficult times for us. Thank you that “Step with Hope” Charitable Foundation continuously provides us with such a necessary item as bread. I am thankful to you!”
The Night Shelter for Homeless People. Serhii, a displaced person from Donetsk region, has not been able to find a job. He doesn’t have the means to rent an apartment and lives with other homeless disabled people in the shelter. He and the other residents are grateful for the support of compassionate people.
Kateryna Serhiivna spoke about her granddaughter, who has a newborn child. Her husband is currently at the front, hasn’t yet received his pay, and is unable to support the family. The granddaughter had to move into housing with living conditions unsuitable for raising a child. Now she needs everything. Bread and other aid are very important to her. She is thankful that she can come and receive what she needs.
Sofiivka
They sincerely thank us for the attention and assistance, which they consider very necessary under the conditions of a financial shortage to meet basic needs.
Motria Kostiantynivna, 83 years old, is from the village of Vakulove. She has been living alone for many years. For the past 10 years, she has lived in a house of mercy. She and the residents, along with the administration, are grateful that kind people remember them and provide high-quality bread once a week.
Kamianske
“My name is Svitlana, I am 52 years old, a resident of the city of Soledar, Bakhmut district, Donetsk region. For a long time, I couldn’t leave with my parents because my father is bedridden, and we were the last to leave the city. Our home was destroyed, and the mines were ruined.
In Kamianske, we searched for a long time for an apartment because no one wants to rent to someone with a bedridden family member. We are very grateful to the sponsors for the wonderful aid packages, without which it would be very difficult for us.”
“My name is Oleh, I am 57 years old, and I am from the city of Popasna. From the beginning of the war, I left my native town with my son. Only the foundation of my house remains, so there is no place to return to. In Kamianske, I live with friends. I am very grateful to the sponsors for the free glasses. I am rapidly losing my eyesight, and now I have a chance to read. I wish the entire team good health and peace. “
“I am Mykhailo Rafikovych, 51 years old. I arrived with my family in Kamianske from the city of Pokrovsk. We are renting a small house here. When the fighting approached our town, we decided to leave because electricity and water were only occasionally available, and rockets repeatedly struck the streets. Neighboring houses were damaged, and our roof was also affected. We are very thankful to the sponsors who care for us.”
