PROJECT WOOD
Oskil Community
The Oskil community in the Kharkiv region, which suffered heavily during the deoccupation, is now a place where people return and seek a new life. However, these areas still face significant challenges: forests and plantations remain mined, and there are almost no resources for firewood to heat homes during the winter. In such conditions, the support of the International Charitable Foundation “Step with Hope” is vital.
Recently, a man who fled from Borova during active combat received firewood assistance in the village of Kapitolivka. His journey to safety was filled with hardships: moving from place to place, sleeping at bus stops under the open sky, until the community noticed him and provided him with shelter. He once had a house and two cars, but the war took everything. The firewood he received became not just fuel but a chance to survive the winter.
Another story is about a farming family from Borova. They had to leave everything behind: their home, their farm, and even their land, which is now mined. During the occupation, the family hid in a basement, where, fortunately, they miraculously avoided a tragedy caused by a thrown grenade. Today, they live in a small house provided by the community, but they have no work or resources. Thanks to the support of the “Step with Hope” Foundation, they received firewood that will provide warmth during the cold months.
To date, 91 families in the Oskil community have received firewood from the foundation. However, the needs remain enormous, as displaced people continue to arrive from other dangerous areas. The foundation continues to support these people, helping them persevere in difficult conditions.
The help of the “Step with Hope” Foundation is not just warmth for the home but a step towards restoring human lives and confidence that together we can overcome any challenges.
Bulakhivka
Bulakhivka, a small village in the Pavlohrad district of Dnipropetrovsk region, has become a temporary refuge for many displaced people from Donetsk. People who left their homes due to the war came here, seeking a safe place. However, their new life is accompanied by significant hardships: most homes are not suitable for winter, and firewood for heating is in great shortage.
The International Charitable Foundation “Step with Hope” was one of the first to provide targeted assistance in Bulakhivka. A total of 50 people from 25 households received firewood. People were sincerely surprised and delighted to know that there are those who are ready to support them in difficult times.
Here is the story of Roman, a 41-year-old displaced person who had to flee from the war twice. The first time was in 2014 when he moved from Donetsk to Luhansk region, and now, due to the full-scale invasion, he found himself in Bulakhivka. He was assigned an old abandoned house with a stove, but without gas. Firewood became the only way to keep warm. “Thank you to the ‘Step with Hope‘ Foundation for the help, the firewood is of very good quality, and it was delivered exactly when it was most needed,” says Roman.
Another story is about Iryna, a displaced person from Severodonetsk. Her house was destroyed after shelling, and she had to leave her hometown. Later, she settled in Bulakhivka in an abandoned house without gas or electricity. “A wood stove is the only way to warm up. Thank you to the ‘Step with Hope‘ Foundation and sponsors for the firewood. Without your help, I wouldn’t have coped!” shares Iryna.
Sadly, such stories are typical for many displaced people, but thanks to the “Step with Hope” Foundation, people are receiving the necessary support. Firewood is not just a way to stay warm; it is a symbol of hope and faith in the future.
Kherson
Kherson, which has already experienced deoccupation and significant destruction, is once again facing difficult trials. Recent shelling has left the city without electricity, water, heating, and stable communication. The “Step with Hope” Foundation is actively working to help the people of Kherson during these challenging days, providing them with essential resources and support.
Last week, the foundation’s team carried out a number of important actions:
— Refueled 18 generators to help people charge their devices, flashlights, and even cook food.
— Installed a generator in a busy area near a café that has become a point of resilience. Anyone can come there to warm up, charge their phone, or receive support.
— Conducted pest control in 18 buildings, including large basements.
— Dried one room that had been flooded due to infrastructure destruction.
One of the foundation’s main missions is to help the people of Kherson combat the consequences of flooding and restore their homes. Thanks to the generators and special equipment, it was possible to begin drying rooms affected by the flooding. This work is helping people gradually return to normal life.
The initiative to install a generator near the café received particularly warm feedback. The café owner created a resilience point where people can charge their gadgets and receive at least some warmth. “Thank you for being here; it’s like a ray of light in the darkness,” says one of the local residents.
Today, Kherson once again resembles a city after deoccupation: cold, darkness, and a sense of uncertainty. But the people of Kherson, who have already overcome one difficult stage, are confident they will get through this as well. And the team at the “Step with Hope” Foundation, with the support of Ukraine TrustChain, is doing everything possible to give them warmth, light, and hope.
Donetsk Region
The Donetsk region, which is constantly under enemy fire, continues to hold on due to the resilience of its residents and the support of initiatives like the assistance from the “Step with Hope” Foundation. In the cities of Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka, and Rodynske, the foundation is providing basic needs to people who find themselves in the most difficult conditions.
Rodynske
The city is completely without water, electricity, and gas. In such conditions, every act of support is extremely important. The foundation organized bread distribution for displaced people, the elderly, low-income families, and people with disabilities. Local residents sincerely thank for this help, as basic necessities become unreachable in the frontline zone.
Here is the story of Eduard, who cares for his wife with a disability. She requires constant care, but even basic items like adult diapers are very difficult to find here. “The prices are sky-high, and under shelling, they are almost impossible to find,” says Eduard. He sincerely thanks the foundation for their help and support during these tough times.
Druzhkivka
In Druzhkivka, the foundation initiated the medical project “Know Your Sugar Level.” People actively come to check their health, as access to medical services in the region is limited.
For children, the foundation organizes workshops, which have become a real celebration in the gloomy everyday life. The kids eagerly await the next meetings, and there are even festive events planned for Christmas.
Kostiantynivka
The city also received humanitarian aid, including bread for the most vulnerable categories of the population.
The roads to these settlements are covered with ice, and transport moves with great difficulty, but the foundation’s team, despite the risks, continues to deliver the necessary supplies. The conditions are worsening: the enemy is intensifying the offensive, shelling continues, and winter brings new challenges.
The “Step with Hope” Foundation is not just about material aid; it’s about supporting the spirit. Bread, medical projects, and care for children – all this gives people faith that they are not alone.
Kharkiv Region
In the Kharkiv region, the “Step with Hope” Foundation provides steady and extremely necessary support to the residents of the region and displaced persons affected by the war. Bread, hygiene products, baby diapers… as well as moral encouragement, it all helps people stay calm at this difficult time.
Znamianka
Hanna Vasylivna Rudyak, an 80-year-old pensioner, moved with her husband to the village because of the war. Every Wednesday, the family receives bread, brought by their neighbor, as Hanna’s health does not allow her to get to the distribution point by herself. “Thank you to the foundation for the help, and I wish health to its workers!” says Mrs. Hanna.
Derhachi
In the town, 50 loaves of bread were distributed, but many more people came for assistance. The bread was given to pensioners, disabled individuals, elderly people living alone, low-income families, and the unemployed. People are very grateful to the ICF “Step with Hope” and Ukraine TrustChain for the fresh, delicious bread, as any help in the conditions of constant power outages is invaluable.
Chuhuiv and Kochetok
Olena Serhiivna, a single mother raising five children, thanks the foundation for their care: “It’s very difficult to survive now, but your help gives us the strength to keep going.”
Merefa
Bread was distributed to internally displaced persons (IDPs), low-income families, disabled individuals, pensioners, the unemployed, and those caring for the sick and elderly. “A big thank you to the foundation’s sponsors for their support. May God bless you in your important work!”
Balaklia
The number of people coming for bread continues to grow, but there is enough bread for everyone.
Krasnohrad
In Krasnohrad, 200 loaves of bread were distributed to IDPs, the disabled, large families, pensioners, and the temporarily unemployed. Valentyna Mykolaivna, a 64-year-old pensioner, thanks the foundation for their help: “This is real support for my husband and me, who recently had a heart attack.”
Zlatopil
140 loaves of white bread were distributed to pensioners, disabled people, and IDPs. People are grateful to the foundation and note that the need for medicine, food, firewood, and warmth remains extremely relevant.
Kharkiv, Kamiana Yurga, Mala Danylivka
Five meetings for children and teenagers were held, including a master class on making mandarin muffins. One important example of help was the story of 15-year-old Diana, who lost two family members in the last four months. Thanks to the foundation’s support, she began to recover and smiled for the first time in three weeks.
Help from the “Step with Hope” foundation is not just about food or material things. It’s about warmth, hope, and human support, which are so needed in these difficult times.
Dnipropetrovsk Region
The ICF “Step with Hope” continues to provide crucial support to the residents of Nikopol, Marganets, and surrounding communities, who are suffering from the consequences of combat actions and the winter cold. Over the past week, a number of initiatives have helped people receive the most essential items.
Nikopol
Drinking water is distributed daily from the foundation’s aid center. Over the past week, 3,000 liters of water were distributed, but the cold weather presents challenges, as water in the barrels freezes. To improve efficiency, there is a need for 500-liter barrels that can be installed indoors.
Visitors to the aid center also receive food, warm clothing, and free glasses. With the help of Restoring Vision sponsors, 100 pairs of glasses were distributed, which became vital assistance for many, especially the elderly. People also received warm pants and pasta.
Marganets
The Marganets community has a population of 28,000, with the majority being pensioners and disabled individuals. The youth has fled due to safety concerns. Every Saturday, the foundation organizes a citizens’ reception in a designated room, which is usually not heated. Inside, the temperature is very low, and the electrical grid only provides 130-150 volts, making it impossible to function fully.
Despite all the difficulties, people have been helped with food, warm clothes, and glasses. Nadia, a local resident, says: “We live very hard, and our pension is not enough. Thank you to the ICF ‘Step with Hope’ for supporting us. We wish you health and strength to continue helping people.”
Over the past week, 100 kg of cereals and pasta, 60 cans of canned beans were delivered to a hospital, 80 packs of pasta with glasses, and 10 pairs of warm pants were distributed.
Special thanks to Restoring Vision for providing free glasses to many people in the region. This is life-changing assistance, giving people comfort and new opportunities.
Despite the constant cold, low voltage, and difficult situation in the region, the foundation’s team is doing everything possible to support people. Even under the toughest conditions, the workers and volunteers remain at their posts, helping those who need it most.
Pavlohrad
In Pavlohrad, ICF “Step with Hope” continues to assist people in difficult life circumstances. Over the past week, several important trips were made to receive and deliver humanitarian aid, which became a lifeline for many IDPs, disabled individuals, and low-income residents.
On November 27, a series of trips took place along the Pavlohrad-Dnipro-Reshkut-Pavlohrad route to transport humanitarian aid. Warm clothing, food, including pasta and flour, was received and distributed.
Assistance was provided to 36 families of IDPs, people with disabilities, and others in need.
Serhiy, a 50-year-old resident of Pavlohrad, is a person with a disability and a participant in the psychosocial and humanitarian programs of the foundation. He is especially grateful for the warm clothing, which helped him prepare for the winter period.
“Thank you to the foundation for their support and care. This help makes it easier to get through the winter,” shares Serhiy.
Currently, Pavlohrad is calm, without shelling. However, due to the winter season, there is an acute need for firewood to heat the homes of IDPs. Providing heat remains one of the community’s most important tasks.
The “Step with Hope” foundation continues its work, despite all the difficulties, to help people survive these challenging times.
Synelnykove
ICF “Step with Hope” continues to support the residents of the Dnipropetrovsk region, including those in Synelnykove and surrounding villages. Humanitarian aid is directed to the most vulnerable categories of the population, providing them with essential food, warm clothing, bread, and psychosocial support.
Kryvyi Rih
This week, humanitarian trips took place along the Kryvyi Rih-Dnipro route to receive and deliver aid to IDPs and residents of Kherson region.
The total amount of cargo transported was 4,000 kg.
Bread, food packages, and hygiene items were delivered.
Comprehensive psychosocial and rehabilitation support was provided to IDPs and socially vulnerable individuals.
Halyna, a pensioner, thanks the foundation for the bread aid:
“In these times when there is no light, heat, or water, and money is not enough even for the most necessary things, your bread is a true blessing. Thank you so much!”
Sofyivskyi District
Humanitarian aid is actively arriving in the Sofyivskyi district as well. IDPs and local residents received food, bread, and essential items.
Kamianets-Podilskyi
The volunteer center in Kamianets-Podilskyi works for the benefit of people. The main areas of activity are:
— Transporting humanitarian aid throughout the city
— Distributing bread and food packages
— Operating the children’s center “Usmishka”
— Organizing charitable lunches
— Providing laundry services for IDPs and SWOs
— Operating a massage room
— Psychosocial programs: “Strength in Weakness” and “Healing Soul Wounds”
— Distributing glasses and clothing for IDPs and SWOs
Here are a few stories of people who were helped by the foundation:
Lyubov Mykytivna, 62, from Toretsk:
“We hesitated to leave for a long time, but the war forced us to flee. We rent an apartment in Kamianets-Podilskyi. A big thank you to the foundation and sponsors for their help. It’s very much needed right now.”
Tetiana Mykolaivna, 68, from Pervomaisk:
“I left my hometown last, as transport no longer operated. Now I live in a rented apartment. Thank you for the glasses, food, and warm meetings in the psychosocial support program. You give care and warmth.”
Lyudmyla Volodymyrivna, from Bakhmut:
“My family and I left Bakhmut when the shelling became unbearable. At first, all six of us lived in one room. Thank you to the foundation for the help, tasty bread, and support.”