PROJECT “FIREWOOD”.
Zmiivskyi, Lozivskyi, and Iziumskyi Districts, Kharkiv Region
38 cubic meters, 26.6 tons of firewood
This week, our team provided support to 19 families in critical need. The primary focus was on targeted aid, carefully selecting households that required firewood the most.
Our assistance reached several villages in the Zmiivskyi, Lozivskyi, and Iziumskyi districts. These are people who fled their homes due to the hostilities in the Boryva direction. Many are displaced families now living in old houses with wood-burning stoves. Thanks to your donations and our collective efforts, these families now have a genuine chance to get through the winter.
The story of one family: Vira Mykolayivna from the village of Artyukhivka, Kharkiv Region, had to evacuate from Borova due to heavy shelling, leaving almost everything behind. She takes care of her bedridden mother and hesitated for a long time before leaving the dangerous area. Now, their new home has become livable thanks to the firewood we delivered.
KHERSON REGION
Kherson
Activities last week:
- Animal care: Provided food for two abandoned animals.
- Generators: Refueled four generators and replaced the oil in one.
- Pest control: Treated five premises, including two large basements.
- Delivery: Supplied six canisters of fuel for generators and nutritional bars to the Eastern district.
- Disinfection: Sanitized a large building.
- Evacuation: Transported two women to the village of Inzhenerne.
- Protective gear: Delivered clothing suitable for working in hazardous conditions, including waste cleanup.
- Repairs: Collected two EcoFlow charging stations for maintenance.
Work on Mykhailivska Street: Following the flooding caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, we helped rescue homes from dampness and mold. Two apartment buildings were disinfected, and a flea infestation in the stairwell of one building was eliminated.
DONETSK REGION
Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, Mykolaivka
The situation in Donetsk remains dire, but our volunteers continue their efforts to support people in need.
Aid provided last week:
- Hosted children’s workshops.
- Organized a charity meal for affected individuals.
- Distributed bread and food supplies.
- Provided eyeglasses to those in need.
- Disinfected several premises.
The story of Nadiya from Kostiantynivka: Nadiya suffered from shelling that severely damaged her home, and she sustained a leg injury. Thanks to our support, including bread and a walking stick, she now finds it easier to move around.
Humanitarian mission: On Saturday, we delivered aid to a family whose husband was battling cancer. They expressed heartfelt gratitude, but tragically, the husband passed away the same day. This loss underscores the vital importance of our support in such moments.
Your contributions offer a lifeline to those enduring the harshest conditions, reminding them that they are not forgotten. Thank you for your trust and support!
KHARKIV REGION
Znamenka
“My name is Anzhelika, and I’m 24 years old. I currently live in the village of Znamenka with my nine-month-old son. We can’t return to Kharkiv because our neighborhood was heavily shelled. It’s extremely difficult to survive on the 860 UAH child allowance and the limited aid we receive as displaced persons. I can’t even afford diapers. Every Wednesday, we receive free bread, which I collect for myself and my neighbor. Thank you to the foundation for supporting us. I wish everyone health and pray for an end to the war.”
IZIUMSKYI DISTRICT
Last week, we carried out a humanitarian trip to the de-occupied parts of Iziumskyi District in Kharkiv Region, visiting remote villages.
We received information from our volunteers about families with specific needs and challenges. Most of these families consisted of elderly individuals with no one to care for them. We delivered walkers to improve their mobility, along with food packages.
We also visited families with small children, including newborns. These families face incredibly tough circumstances, and we supported them with clothing, food, hygiene supplies, and toys. We personally visited 22 families to deliver aid.
The roads: The journey was grueling. Some stretches, over 10 kilometers long, were virtually impassable. Deep potholes, water-filled craters, and eroded shoulders made travel difficult. Thanks to our sturdy red Volkswagen off-road vehicle and the support of our sponsors, we managed to reach these remote areas.
SHELTER NEAR KHARKIV
This shelter houses 83 people, including many children. We provided food, toys, sweets, and other essentials.
The story of Ivan, a 12-year-old boy: Ivan’s mother and grandmother were killed by a shell that struck their home in Izium during the early days of the war. At the time, Ivan was staying with his other grandmother. He now lives with her and struggles with a form of cerebral palsy, though he can walk with difficulty. When we visited, we brought toys, sweets, and construction sets, bringing a little joy to his life.
A young family in need: We also supported a family with a three-month-old baby who lacked a stroller. We delivered a high-quality transformer stroller, bringing hope and relief to their challenging situation.
CHUHUIV AND KISHTIVKA
Chuhuiv has become a transit hub for refugees from Kupiansk and Borova. Many displaced persons now reside here, despite regular drone activity and occasional missile strikes.
Our volunteers work tirelessly to assist the local population and new arrivals. As one elderly resident, Varvara Mykytivna (born in 1944), expressed, “Thank you for helping us during these hard times.”
BALAKLIYA
In Balakliya, 200 loaves of bread were distributed to pensioners, people with disabilities, the unemployed, displaced persons, and those in need.
Hygiene supplies and adult diapers are urgently needed. The demand for aid continues to grow, and we remain committed to supporting the community during this crisis.
CHERVONOHRAD
Iryna, 58 years old, is disabled and unemployed, making it nearly impossible to survive without outside help. She is deeply grateful to the “Step with Hope” foundation and its sponsors for providing bread!
PERVOMAYSKE
140 loaves of bread were distributed to pensioners, internally displaced persons (IDPs), people with disabilities, the unemployed, and refugees. Unfortunately, the situation in the city remains largely unchanged. Occasionally, the sounds of drones can be heard, but people remain calm, and there is no panic. The need for assistance persists. We extend our gratitude to the foundation for the aid and support and look forward to continued cooperation.
DERHACHI
50 loaves of bread were distributed to pensioners, people with disabilities, the unemployed, and low-income families. The situation in the city remains the same, with frequent power and water outages. Residents are extremely thankful to the foundation and sponsors for the delicious bread.
KHARKIV, KAMYANA YARUGA, MALA DANYLIVKA
The city remains quiet with no shelling, but the situation in the region is worse, as there is active fighting near the Kupiansk direction.
The weekend was fruitful. Four meetings for children and teenagers were held.
In the evening, a screening of the movie “The Wild Robot” was organized, followed by tea and a discussion where participants shared insights from the film. On Sunday, a “Women’s Fitness Club” session was conducted.
Additionally, a psychological support program for adults is ongoing.
An impressive turnout of up to 50 people attended these events, and this is just the beginning!
Katya, an 11-year-old girl, lived with her parents in the KhAI district. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, they were forced to leave their home and now reside in Cherkasy. When they visit Kharkiv, Katya eagerly attends children’s meetings.
DNIPROPETROVSK REGION
NIKOPOL
During this period, we continued working in all available directions. The most significant development was the resumption of activities in the region. Following Yulia’s recovery, we immediately headed to Marhanets, where concerns had arisen due to our absence.
On Saturday, we assisted approximately 80 individuals. It was a challenging day for our team, as most visitors were elderly, requiring special care due to their neglected conditions and age-related diseases (cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, unstable blood sugar levels, and resulting vision problems like astigmatism). Communicating was particularly difficult due to hearing impairments. Despite these challenges, the six-hour session ended with over 90% of attendees leaving satisfied.
Throughout the week, we also operated at our Nikopol Assistance Center, distributing drinking water to those under our care.
PAVLOHRAD
Valentyna Tykhonivna, a 76-year-old pensioner who fled Horlivka, expressed her gratitude for the assistance.
The influx of IDPs into Pavlohrad continues to grow, creating a housing shortage and complicating the situation.
Lidiya, a displaced person from Pokrovsk, lost her son, nephew, and sister in 2024. Her home was destroyed by a bomb that shattered all the windows, leaving it uninhabitable. Without access to water, gas, or electricity in Pokrovsk, we helped her relocate with her belongings to a shelter in the Novomoskovsk district. She is deeply grateful for this support.
SAMAR, MAHDALYNIVKA
Trips were organized to collect, transport, and distribute humanitarian aid, including 80 food packages (600 kg) containing canned goods, grains, and other items (300 kg), as well as second-hand clothing and eyeglasses from Restoring Vision.
The aid was distributed to collective shelters for IDPs, a volunteer center in Cherkaske, and displaced persons in Mahdalynivka and surrounding areas.
KRYVYI RIH
Humanitarian trips included:
- Delivery of bread to Sofiyivka.
- Supplying residents of Beryslavska OTG with wood-burning stoves.
- Receiving a shipment of stoves in Bashtanka.
- Assisting people in Khrystoforivka and Radushne.
In the Kryvyi Rih district, humanitarian aid consisting of food packages and gifts for children from vulnerable families, internally displaced persons, and orphans of fallen defenders was distributed. Assistance was also provided to a night shelter for the homeless.
An evacuation and hospitalization of a person with severe leg and internal organ injuries were carried out. In addition, comprehensive psycho-social support was provided to 80 individuals.
The total cargo weight was approximately 3,000 kg.
Bread distribution at the night shelter in Kryvyi Rih resulted in 80 loaves being received by homeless individuals and IDPs.
SOFIYIVSKA OTG
Bread was provided to residents of the Mercy House in Sofiyivka and distributed in the village of Sofiyivka.
RADUSHNE
Bread was distributed to the residents of Radushne.
KAMIANSKE
Humanitarian aid was transported across Kamianske (both left and right banks), including bread deliveries within the city and between Kamianske, Dnipro, and Kryvyi Rih. Activities included:
- Bread distribution.
- Operations at the children’s center “Smile.”
- Launch of the “Healing Children’s Hearts” program and the “Friendshipland” holiday school, where children virtually “traveled” to different countries.
- Organizing charitable lunches.
- Laundry services for IDPs and vulnerable families.
- Operating a massage therapy room.
- Psycho-social programs such as “Strength in Weakness” and “Healing Emotional Wounds.”
TESTIMONIAL
“My name is Rustam, and I am 62 years old. My wife, Nadiya, and I lived in the Donetsk region, Kramatorsk district, in the village of Novoye. We had no plans to evacuate until April when heavy shelling began near our home. On April 15, just before the occupation of the village, we fled to the Kharkiv region. When the enemy advanced further, we relocated to Kamianske in July. We are now renting an apartment and are incredibly grateful to the kind-hearted people who help us.”
Bread was delivered to the Department for Comprehensive Services and Reintegration of Homeless Persons in Kamianske.
Bread distribution also took place on the left bank of Kamianske, where volunteers and displaced persons received it.