Project “Firewood”
Last week, as part of the “Firewood” project, our team provided assistance to several localities that were in most need.
Sloviansk
A truck with firewood was sent to Sloviansk. Thanks to our volunteers, families with special needs who had no alternative source of heating except for firewood were identified. Among them were people with disabilities, pensioners, and large families. As a result, 25 families received help, ensuring they stay warm during the winter period.
Kharkiv Region
Oskil
This area is located 50 km from the frontline. It is home to both displaced persons and local residents, many of whom were unable to prepare for winter due to mined forests and fields. We delivered firewood for 22 families, which allowed them to survive the cold period.
Izyum
In this community, which suffered from summer fires, 22 families received assistance, including lonely pensioners and people with disabilities. These individuals were particularly in need of warmth, as survival without external support was very difficult for them.
Pokatyliivka
This area has a large shelter where approximately 100 people are temporarily living, including large families, pensioners, sick individuals, and those unable to find alternative housing. Our team provided 42 cubic meters of firewood (a large truck), which will be enough to heat the shelter for a month.
Psychological support for children: While interacting with the residents of the shelter, we noticed that children especially needed psychological support. Many of them exhibited signs of severe stress, including enuresis and anxious drawings (mostly in dark colors), reflecting their feelings of oppression and fear.
Znamianka Village
On December 4, 2024, over 200 loaves of bread were distributed in Znamianka village in Kharkiv district. The aid went to displaced persons, pensioners, people with disabilities, and low-income and large families.
One of the recipients, 51-year-old Tetiana Vehira, shared:
“I live in Znamianka with my husband, who is a first-group disability due to vision problems. There is no work, and I take care of him. I receive free bread once a week, for which I am sincerely grateful to the Foundation. I wish there were more people like you, and that the war would end soon.”
Nova Vodolaha
In this settlement, assistance continues to go to displaced persons, pensioners, and people with disabilities. There is an ongoing acute need for firewood, clothing, and footwear. People are grateful for the regular bread deliveries.
Chervonograd
Assistance was provided to: IDPs, people with disabilities, large families, pensioners and low-income individuals
Among the recipients was 63-year-old Natalia Necheparchuk, who lives with her husband, a Chernobyl disaster survivor. She expressed gratitude for the support: “Thank you, Foundation, for the bread; we are very grateful.”
Pervomaisk
140 loaves of bread were distributed. The aid went to pensioners, people with disabilities, IDPs, and the unemployed. There remains a need for firewood, medicines, and winter clothing for the displaced persons.
Kharkiv, Kamyani Yarygi, Mala Danilivka
Three events were organized for children and teenagers:
— A movie screening
— A master class on “Candy Boxes”
— Daily online meetings
The children were very thankful for the organized activities, which helped them feel safe and provided positive emotions.
Stanislav Ivanovych Strukov, a 64-year-old pensioner, also expressed gratitude for the help:
“My wife had a stroke. I am very grateful for the help provided by the charity.”
A particularly touching moment was when we spoke with Mrs. Vira Andriivna, who lives in frontline Kherson. The elderly woman, who was left alone, received medicines and assistance, bringing her to tears of gratitude.
Challenges: Despite our daily active work, we faced some technical difficulties, such as car repairs, balancing wheels, and even a flat tire.
Beryslav District
Our team participated in a roundtable with the Beryslav district administration to discuss the urgent needs of the region. The charity “Step with Hope” received thanks for its continuous support of the local population and significant contribution to meeting the region’s needs, especially regarding firewood, seedlings, and seeds.
Results: Overall, last week our team accomplished a significant amount of work, making life easier for dozens of families and helping them overcome difficulties. We continue to work and plan new initiatives, as many challenges still lie ahead.
Results of our work:
Sloviansk: 50 cubic meters, 25 households
Oskil: 44 cubic meters, 22 households
Izyum: 44 cubic meters, 22 households
Pokatyliivka: 42 cubic meters, 21 households
A total of 180 cubic meters (126 tons) of firewood was distributed, covering 69 households and 96 people in the shelter.
Kherson Region
Kherson
In Kherson, our team accomplished several important tasks:
— Refueled 14 generators.
— Took care of a homeless dog.
— Disinfected an apartment building.
— Provided housing for a family with 10 children, whose home was damaged by shelling.
— Repaired one generator and replaced another.
— Performed rodent control in 14 premises, including large basements, and provided pest control products.
— Purchased and delivered essential medications to an elderly woman living alone.
Donetsk Region
Kramatorsk, Sloviansk
This week, our team visited several towns in Donetsk region: Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, Mykolayivka, Druzhkivka, Rodynske, and Kostiantynivka. The main purpose of the trip was to distribute humanitarian aid and provide emotional support to local residents who are in great need of attention and care during the war.
The roads in this region have significantly worsened. For instance, the road through Hryshyne, the only one leading to several localities, remains extremely difficult to navigate. This rural road is not suitable for large vehicles. A stretch of about three kilometers is filled with potholes, significantly complicating travel. In addition to the technical difficulties, the proximity to Pokrovsk, which is under constant shelling threat, further exacerbates the situation.
Local residents who attend our events often mention that receiving aid is more than just about getting supplies. They share that our gatherings provide them with emotional calm and support. It is important to understand that many physical ailments have their roots in emotional trauma, so our work is focused not only on physical recovery but also on emotional rehabilitation.
Key Needs in the Region:
Hygiene products: soap, laundry detergent, diapers, sanitary pads, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. These items are not distributed anywhere, and most pensioners with minimal pensions cannot afford to buy them.
The younger population is scarce in the region, with most people being soldiers who have access to basic necessities, while the elderly are left without support.
Rodynske, Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka
In these towns, assistance was provided to: people with disabilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), large families, pensioners. Distributed items included: bread, adult diapers, blood sugar level tests, glasses from Restoring Vision, organized charity meals for the affected
We also helped those whose homes were damaged by shelling. In Kostiantynivka, the building providing aid was itself damaged – the roof and part of the ceiling were destroyed. Urgent assistance is needed to restore this facility.
Dnipropetrovsk Region
Nikopol
As before, we continue our activities at the aid center, distributing drinking water. This is an essential support element for local residents, as many face water shortages.
On Saturday, we traveled to Marganets, where we continued receiving people for eye tests and provided humanitarian aid. People received glasses and pasta, which was a nice addition to the primary aid.
At 3 PM, we were in Marganets. The weather was sunny, which warmed us a little, although the building where the reception took place was very cold. The reception started at 1 PM, and we heard an interesting opinion from local pensioners. They mentioned how difficult it is for them to access necessary medical care. To get glasses, they first have to make an appointment with a family doctor, which is difficult, especially for those without a phone or access to electronic services. Furthermore, even when they manage to book an appointment, traveling to the ophthalmologist and the costs of treatment are often unaffordable. Glasses cost no less than 500 UAH, and for people with pensions of 3000 UAH, this is simply impossible. This creates a vicious circle, which we are trying to break by providing people with the necessary help without unnecessary obstacles.
During the reception, the city was heavily shelled, which further complicated the situation. We had planned to go to the coastal zone to distribute glasses, but this is now impossible, as the area is almost destroyed, and most people have left. Nevertheless, we are happy that at least 80 people will receive necessary assistance today, and we continue to move forward.
Before St. Nicholas Day, which is especially important for children, we also organized a small celebration for our young visitors to lift their spirits a bit in the face of the ongoing war.
Pavlohrad
Olha Ivanivna, a displaced person from Donbas, lives in Pavlohrad with her husband, who is disabled. She is sincerely grateful for the assistance she has received—both humanitarian and psychosocial. However, the situation in the city is becoming increasingly difficult: housing prices are rising, forcing them to relocate to the Kharkiv region, where housing is more affordable. Olha’s son found them a new home, but she was hospitalized and underwent surgery. This is yet another example of how the war forces people to adapt their lives under the most challenging circumstances.
Kryvyi Rih
We continue our work in Kryvyi Rih and surrounding areas, such as Velyka Oleksandrivka and Kherson Oblast, providing humanitarian aid to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and residents of Kherson region. During our visits, we offer comprehensive psychosocial support and distribute food, bread, and hygiene products.
The total amount of aid delivered is approximately 4 tons. Most of the aid recipients are pensioners, for whom every bit of help is crucial. They eagerly await the bread, as it is not just a basic food item but significant support during these challenging times.
In the Sofiivka district, the situation is dire: no charitable assistance has been provided there for a year and a half, even though IDPs continue to arrive, mainly from Donetsk region. For them, any form of aid is critically important.
Kamianske
The volunteer center in Kamianske district has been operational since November 2, 2024. Between December 2 and December 8, 2024, we carried out various activities, including transporting humanitarian aid across the city, delivering bread, operating the children’s center “Smile,” organizing charity lunches, and providing laundry services for IDPs and socially vulnerable individuals. We also ran psychosocial programs such as “Strength in Weakness” and “Healing Wounds of the Soul,” which help people restore their emotional well-being during these trying times.
An essential part of our work involves assisting the homeless by delivering bread to the comprehensive service center. Zinaida Vasylivna Mishchuk, a displaced person from Bakhmut, expresses her gratitude to sponsors for the bread that helps her and her son endure these difficult times. She emphasizes that even small assistance is incredibly valuable, as every penny counts, and people’s needs are growing during this period.
The situation in the region remains difficult, and it is imperative to continue providing aid to those in need. The war has not subsided, and support is vital at every stage.