Project “Firewood”
Pechenihy, Artemivka, Pechenihy District, Kharkiv Region
This week, we provided firewood assistance in the Kharkiv region, specifically in the Pechenihy district—in Pechenihy itself and the village of Artemivka. We have been working in Artemivka for a long time, continuously supporting the local residents and understanding their needs. Our volunteers live and work there, deeply familiar with the situation on the ground. That is why the firewood aid was directed to families in the greatest need—mostly elderly people and large families. The help arrived just in time, and the recipients were immensely grateful.
One such family consists of four members: two sons and their parents, Valerii and Olha. They once lived in Artemivka, Pechenihy District, Kharkiv Region. At the beginning of the war, their eldest son, now 20 years old, left to work abroad and was unable to return home. The village quickly became occupied by military forces, and the only bridge across the reservoir was destroyed. The young man had to survive on his own for over six months, far from his family.
The family reached out to us for help, and we supported their relocation from Artemivka to Pechenihy. This happened after intensified battles near Vovchansk, which is very close to Pechenihy. They decided not to risk their lives again and avoid another period of occupation. Their first experience had been incredibly difficult—they endured all the hardships and restrictions that occupation brings.
Now, they live in a small house with a wood-burning stove. Life remains challenging—jobs are scarce, and they take on any available work just to get by. They cultivate a vegetable garden, hold onto hope, set goals, and refuse to give up. Their gratitude for the support they received is what keeps us moving forward.
Another family in need was that of Marina and Oleh, who live in Pechenihy with their three children. They are hardworking people, but the lack of a stable income makes it difficult to cover even basic needs, such as purchasing firewood. Despite the hardships, they are committed to raising their children, who study remotely, while maintaining a small farm with chickens and growing crops.
Marina was actively involved in our volunteer work, helping identify those in greatest need. However, her own family has now fallen on hard times. They turned to us for help with firewood, and we were able to provide them with enough to heat their home.
Overall Impact:
- 13 families received assistance.
- 26 cubic meters of firewood delivered, weighing a total of 20.8 tons.
These stories remind us that even in the darkest times, mutual support and kindness can make a real difference to those who need it most.
Kherson Region
Kherson
This week was intense and challenging. We carried out multiple disinfection and pest control operations, fed animals, and refueled generators to provide at least some electricity to people’s homes.
One story that stood out was that of Serhii, his wife Svitlana, and their two children—little Halynka (4 years old) and Olezka (15 years old). Their lives changed dramatically after the Kakhovka dam explosion, which completely submerged their home. The only things they managed to save were their car and a few bags of belongings. When we first met them, they were utterly devastated, unable to even think about the future.
Our team stepped in to help them rebuild their lives. First, we disinfected and dried out their home, installed a generator, and provided regular fuel refills to continue the drying process. Later, we assisted them with furniture, and within a month, they were able to move back into their home. However, their struggles were far from over. Mice had infested the house, so we conducted pest control. This week, they reached out again—due to the flooding aftermath, their home had become infested with fleas. We immediately responded and carried out thorough disinfection to ensure their home was safe and comfortable again.
This tragedy brought us closer to Serhii’s family. They have since become part of our community—their children now participate in programs organized by our volunteers. Together, we endured the toughest times, gaining a deep understanding of true friendship, the value of life, and the importance of support.
We continue to stay in touch with many families we have helped in Kherson and remain committed to this journey. Together, we stand strong, work hard, and support those who need it most.
Donetsk Region
Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka
Kostiantynivka. The city remains under constant shelling. Despite the difficult and dangerous conditions, we continue to provide assistance to the people.
One of those we were able to help was Liubov. Her house was damaged by shelling, and on top of that, her eyeglasses broke. She heard from a neighbor that we could help with glasses, and now she is deeply grateful for this support. Buying glasses in Kostiantynivka is nearly impossible at the moment.
Druzhkivka. Larysa reached out to us with a difficult story—her husband suffered a stroke and had been bedridden for a long time. Now, he is slowly beginning to stand up again. We provided them with a walker and bread, which she greatly appreciated.
Additional Initiatives:
- Conducted children’s workshops.
- Organized a charity meal.
- 10 people received free haircuts.
One particularly touching story was that of Liudmyla, who expressed immense gratitude for the haircut services. The only barbershop in town is located in the center, and transportation is unreliable. On top of that, financial constraints make it difficult for her to afford such services. Living on a disability pension is tough, so this small act of kindness meant the world to her.
Kramatorsk and Kramatorsk District
This week, we traveled to Kramatorsk. How has the situation changed compared to the previous week?
The region is becoming increasingly dangerous. The roads are deteriorating, and the sense of risk is growing. People are frightened and uncertain about what to do or where to go. During these difficult times, we strive to support them not only materially but also emotionally. We distribute bread, engage in conversations, and provide psychological and social support to help them feel less alone in their struggles.
We continue to help because we understand how crucial it is to provide not only aid but also hope.
Kharkiv Region: Support That Warms Hearts
Znamyanka
“I am Larysa Vasylivna, 63 years old, and I live in the village of Znamyanka in the Kharkiv district with my 85-year-old mother. Our pension barely covers medicine and utility bills. We survive thanks to our small vegetable garden, as we buy only the bare essentials. But the fact that we receive bread every week is a true gift. Every time, I think about those who bake this bread, deliver it, and make this help possible. May God grant you all health and peaceful skies over your heads!”
Chuhuiv and the village of Kochetok
Here, aid has been provided to internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, large families, pensioners, low-income individuals, and those temporarily unemployed.
“I am Olha Afanasiyivna, born in 1951, a pensioner, and a resident of Chuhuiv. We are living through extremely difficult times, and your support is invaluable. Thank you for your care!”
Merefa
“I am Volodymyr Volodymyrovych, a resident of Merefa. I have a disability. I am grateful to the sponsors and the foundation that support us during this difficult time of war. Your help is truly a lifeline!”
Krasnohrad
Ms. Lyubov, 72, and her retired husband are enduring the challenges of war together. “Financial and health difficulties are especially hard to bear now. But your help—this delicious bread—always arrives just in time. Thank you so much!”
Derhachi
The situation in the city remains dire. Frequent power and water outages, as well as explosions this week, have made life even harder. But people still find reasons to be grateful: “The bread you provide is not just food; it is a symbol of your support. Thank you to the foundation team for your kindness!”
Kharkiv, Kamiana Yaruha, Mala Danylivka
Shelling continues: residential areas are hit almost daily, power outages persist, and even during one of the trips, a vehicle broke down. However, this did not stop the work.
On Friday, an online meeting was held on the topic of “A Positive Outlook,” as many could not attend in person due to illness. On Saturday, activities for children and teenagers were organized, including a charity lunch and a tea gathering that brought together around 50 people.
For children, teenagers, and their parents, an art therapy session was conducted—a master class in painting with napkins. The joy and happy faces of the participants were the best reward.
This week, new displaced persons arrived from Kupiansk, Kovsharivka, and Uzlova. They expressed deep gratitude for the help and support.
“I am Iryna, 56 years old, temporarily unemployed. Over the past two years, your foundation has been a vital source of support for me. The weekly bread is not just food—it is a symbol of humanity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
Despite shelling, losses, and pain, the “Step with Hope” foundation continues to be a beacon of light for those in need. Each story is proof that aid can change lives, providing not just bread but hope.
Dnipropetrovsk Region
Marhanets and Nikopol: Life Under the Pressure of War
Marhanets: The Sorrowful Title of ‘The City of the Disabled’
Once an industrial heart of the region, Marhanets is now a city of the elderly and disabled. The heavy industries that once thrived here left a legacy of silicosis, spinal injuries, and broken limbs. Occupational diseases became the norm, and 40-year-old retirees are no longer a rarity.
Today, the city is nearly deserted. Young people have left due to the proximity to the war zone—only 1.5 kilometers separate Marhanets from the occupiers. The streets are silent and empty, with no buses, no crowds—only queues of pensioners and disabled individuals at aid centers remind us that life still goes on. It is a painful reality, but we do everything we can to ease it.
Help That Brings Hope
This week, an ophthalmologist’s visit to Marhanets was a significant event. There are hardly any doctors here, let alone specialists, so people’s gratitude was overwhelming. The eyeglass distribution program exceeded all expectations, giving many a new perspective on life.
“Thank you for the help and for the ophthalmologist. This is like a ray of light in the darkness,” said the residents of Marhanets.
Special Stories
Little Danylo and his mother came for direct assistance. The boy has a disability, but his eyes lit up when he received some sweets. Moments like these inspire us to keep going.
Natalia, a disabled woman with spinal issues, is preparing for a complex hip replacement surgery. She could not hold back tears when receiving aid. Her words of gratitude touched our hearts.
Marina, a pensioner caring for her son with a single functioning lung, patiently waited for us on a cold winter evening to receive new crutches. Her tears of joy as she tried them for the first time were the best reward for our work. That evening, we returned home late and exhausted, but with the certainty that the day had not been lived in vain.
Valentyna: Fighting for Every Step
Sixty-six-year-old Iryna suffers from a rare spinal disease that has caused her leg to wither. She wraps it in bandages just to move a little. Her strength is only enough to walk to the nearby store. The walker she received was a true salvation.
“Now I can go beyond my doorstep. This is like a new life for me,” she said.
Living Between War and Hope
Marhanets continues to live under constant shelling. People remain strong despite the hardships. Though pain and tears are part of their daily reality, every small victory—every new step, every smile, every expression of gratitude—proves that human resilience is boundless.
People of War: Stories from Life
Olha: The Weaver Who Wove Dreams
Olha dedicated her life to working at a unique ribbon-weaving factory, the only one of its kind in the former Soviet Union. This factory produced parachute straps for aviation and the military. In those days, a weaver’s salary was twice that of a miner, and it seemed that prosperity would last forever. But the collapse of the USSR dealt a fatal blow to the strategic enterprise. A temporary shutdown marked the end of an era. Today, all that remains of the once-mighty industry are ruins—a solemn reminder of the past.
As Olha looks upon these ruins, she remembers not only the lost factory but also the painful moments of her own life. She had high hopes for her daughter, but alcoholism shattered all expectations. Her pension is the only resource they now share. It is a life of constant struggle, yet her voice still carries strength, even in sorrow.
Valeriy — The Miner with an Unyielding Smile
For thirty years, Valeriy worked as a coal miner, fearless in the face of darkness and danger. Even now, after suffering a stroke, his smile looks back from an old photograph. But few know that this smile is no longer conscious. The illness has taken his memory and his connection to the world. More than once, he has gone missing, lost in the unknown. Yet, thanks to caring individuals, he has always been found and brought back home.
His family does their best to protect him, keeping him safe within their walls. “He’s like a little child now,” his loved ones say. In his smile, one can still glimpse the eternal optimist who never lost hope.
Tamara — A Mother Who Waits
Tamara is from Marhanets. Her sons are now on the front lines, and every day she waits for their return. Loneliness cuts deep. With eyes red from tears, she searches the faces of passersby, hoping to recognize familiar features.
“I just want my boys to come home,” she says. Every noise outside makes her heart race. There is no peace for her while war rages far away. It is painful to watch her; the suffering of a mother’s heart is one of the most agonizing things to witness.
Oleksii — A Soldier with a Sorrowful Fate
Retired military officer Oleksii, classified as a third-group disabled veteran, welcomes guests to his home with warmth. Due to heart problems, he rarely goes outside, but his neighbors support him in every way they can. Despite his losses, he carries himself with the dignity of a soldier.
Oleksii often reminisces about his late wife, who passed away last autumn. As he flips through an old photo album, he tries to recall the warmth of those moments. His son, Andrii, was his pride, following in his father’s footsteps by serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. But during a brief leave, Andrii tragically passed away from a blood clot. With his son’s passing, Oleksii lost not only his child but also his last hope for the future.
Nadiya — A Woman Living in Memories
For twenty years, Nadiya, a lonely retiree from Pokrov, has lived in solitude. Once, she dedicated her life to her husband, only for him to take his own life, leaving her with nothing but pain and a deep wound in her soul. Her son, Oleksii, a soldier, is unable to visit her often.
“I just need someone to listen to me,” she says. But this simple need often goes unmet. Left to fend for themselves, many elderly people retreat into silence, not wanting to burden their loved ones. And so they pass away in quiet loneliness, never hearing a single word of comfort.
These stories are about pain, hope, and resilience. They are about people who refuse to give up, even when it seems like there is nothing left to hold on to.
Kamianske: A Helping Hand for Those Facing Hardships
In Kamianske, volunteers do more than just distribute humanitarian aid—they restore hope. Between January 20 and 26, 2025, the city was a hub of activity. On both the right and left banks of the river, volunteers transported food supplies, delivered bread to those in need, and coordinated logistics to help as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.
The distribution of bread and food packages became a daily ritual, infused with care and understanding. People came for these simple but vital gifts, receiving not just sustenance but also kind words and encouragement.
Yet, Kamianske offers more than just material assistance. The children’s center “Usmishka” (“Smile”) helps young displaced children rediscover joy. Through games and creative activities, they find new friends and, for a few precious hours, forget the horrors they have witnessed.
For adults, psycho-social programs such as “Strength in Weakness” and “Healing the Wounded Soul” provide a space to share pain, find resilience, and gradually heal emotional scars. An atmosphere of sincerity and support embraces all who seek refuge here.
The creative hub “Berehynia” offers more than an outlet for artistic expression; it helps people regain their inner balance. Threads, paints, and clay come to life in the hands of displaced individuals, transforming into beautiful creations that symbolize renewal and new beginnings.
Even everyday services carry a special significance. Volunteers have established a space where people can receive massages or do their laundry. Hairdressers, joining the cause, do more than just cut hair—they help restore dignity and confidence, even in the face of hardship.
The work continues despite exhaustion. Every day in Kamianske is another step toward restoring humanity and bringing light back into the lives of those who have endured the darkest of times.
Personal Stories That Inspire
Tetiana, 52 years old
“My husband and I refused to leave our home in Dachne, Pokrovskyi district, holding onto hope for a miracle. But in September 2024, we were forced to evacuate when the city council abandoned our town. Our son is now on the front lines, while our daughter-in-law had previously relocated to Kamianske and invited us to join her. Now we rent an apartment here. I am deeply grateful to the ‘Step with Hope’ International Charity Foundation for their food assistance—it means the world to us during these hard times.”
Iryna, 56 years old
“I left my home in Maryinskyi district, Donetsk region, in 2022 with my son and mother. At first, we moved to Kamianske at a friend’s invitation. This summer, my mother passed away. Now I live alone, renting an apartment. I am thankful to the ‘Step with Hope’ foundation for their ongoing support, which allows us displaced people to survive under such difficult conditions. I wish everyone peace and good health.”
Those who have received help deeply appreciate the warmth and care they were shown. Services such as haircuts, massages, and creative workshops at “Berehynia” have become crucial, restoring dignity and a sense of purpose.
Every story, every word of gratitude, and every smile serves as a reminder that the work of ‘Step with Hope’ truly matters. Together, we overcome hardships, bringing warmth and support to those who need it most.