Last week, we completed a key phase of our agro project in the Kharkiv region. This area was the final one in our schedule due to the later planting season in the northern parts of Ukraine.
The main task of the week was delivering seedlings to towns, villages, and communities across the Kharkiv region — including de-occupied and frontline areas.
Seedlings were delivered to the following locations:
Shevchenkove – 500 families
Balakliia – 400 families
Chkalovske – 480 families
Chuhuiv – 350 families
Merefa – 300 families
Nova Vodolaha – 260 families
Kryvyi Rih – 220 families
Pokotylyvka – 180 families
Kharkiv – 150 families
Donets – 120 families
Pechenihy – 120 families
Derhachi – 110 families
Lozova – 100 families
Zlatopil – 100 families
Mospanove – 200 families
Zmiiv – 130 families
Pivdennyi – 70 families
Local residents expressed heartfelt gratitude for this support. The region faces severe logistical challenges — many people simply cannot reach markets or district centers to buy seedlings. Public transport is rare or completely unavailable, and prices for seedlings remain prohibitively high.
Our assistance gave these families more than just the ability to grow their own food — it became a source of hope, a sense of security for the coming winter, and a reminder that they are not alone.
The final stage of the project is expected to conclude next week. Together with you, we are making a difference in Ukraine’s most vulnerable communities. Thank you for every act of support!
Assistance was provided to internally displaced persons (IDPs), families affected by the war, and relatives of fallen soldiers.
Donets has completed the distribution of seedlings and expresses deep gratitude to the sponsors.
Zmiiv thanks everyone for the seedlings.
Zhovti Vody. We sincerely thank you for the seedlings. They were distributed to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and low-income families.
20 sets were allocated for those in particular need in the Vodobud district.
The seedlings are excellent! People were very pleased and grateful.
May the Lord bless your friendly team! Wishing you good health!
Balakliia sincerely thanks you for the seedlings!
Seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, and cabbage were received by the households of the villages Bazaliivka, Mykolaivka, Doslidne, and Havrylivka.
“We thank the kind benefactors for supporting vegetable growing in the community,” says humanitarian aid specialist Liliya Dmytrenko. “The people who received such assistance are very satisfied and hopeful for a good harvest.”
Kherson Region. The Story of Ms. Larysa
In the city of Kherson, we met Ms. Larysa — an elderly woman living with her husband. Both suffer from serious health issues, rely solely on their pensions, and are trying to survive amidst ongoing shelling.
Ms. Larysa heard about our foundation from a neighbor when she found herself in a critical situation — she urgently needed medication but couldn’t afford it. In desperation, she reached out to our team, hoping for support.
We responded immediately, purchasing and delivering the full list of required medications. When our volunteers handed her the package, Ms. Larysa couldn’t hold back her tears — she couldn’t believe such help was even possible. With heartfelt gratitude, she even tried to invite the volunteers for lunch to thank them for their care.
This story is another reminder of how essential it is to stand by those who are most vulnerable.
We thank each and every donor who made this act of kindness possible.
It is deeply painful to witness how elderly people — who make up the majority of Kherson’s population — are forced to survive without any real foundation or safety net.
There is one unshakable truth known by every resident: “Without volunteers, Kherson simply wouldn’t survive.”
That’s why our team is always there — beside those who need it most.
A person was provided with poison for conducting pest control (disinsection).
In addition to everything else, we carry out disinsection of basements.
Provided poison for conducting deratization (rodent control).
A canister of gasoline was delivered for a multi-apartment building on Ostrov.
Bread was delivered to families in the “red zones.”
Poison was provided to a person for conducting deratization (rodent control).
Refueling underway.
Repair of a passenger car and a van (the brakes had seized—thank God it didn’t happen in the red zone).
Medicines were purchased and provided to a seriously ill person.
Poison for deratization was provided to one person.
Over the past week, the following has been done:
1) Poison was handed over to 1 person for disinfestation; 2) 10 generators were refueled; 3) Disinfestation of 3 premises, including two large basement ones; 4) Poison was handed over to 3 people for deratization; 5) Medicine was purchased and handed over to 3 people; 6) Bread was given to six families in the red zone; 7) Deratization of 2 large basement premises; 8) Dry showers and wet wipes were sent to a wounded boy; 9) A canister of gasoline was given to an apartment building on the Island.
DONETSK REGION: Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, Mykolaivka
From May 16 to 18, our foundation’s team carried out a humanitarian mission to several cities in the Donetsk region — specifically Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, and Mykolaivka. These communities lie within the active combat zone, where daily life is marked by danger, constant alarms, and ongoing losses.
Today, what local residents need most is not only food or basic supplies — they long for something deeper: the reassurance that they are not alone. Again and again, our volunteers heard this from people who have lost their homes, belongings, and loved ones. Even when it feels like no one can truly understand their pain, they are reminded that there are people who care — people willing to extend a helping hand, share their burden, and walk alongside them.
During the trip, we distributed humanitarian aid, offered social support, and — most importantly — simply stood beside those in need.
One of the most pressing needs in the region is hygiene and household supplies. In current conditions, these items are not a luxury — they are essential for survival.
The situation remains tense, with no visible signs of improvement. Yet this only reinforces the importance of our continued presence and support. We extend our heartfelt thanks to every donor who makes these missions possible. Your support means presence, compassion, and dignity in the most difficult of times.
KONSTANTYNIVKA, DRUZHKIVKA
Druzhkivka. The front line is getting closer.
The Dobropillia–Kramatorsk highway has come under drone fire.
The outskirts of Druzhkivka are now being shelled systematically.
Despite the danger, we continue distributing humanitarian aid in the region. Bread, food supplies, and eyeglasses were handed out.
A charitable lunch was also held, along with children’s creative workshops.
Olga. Thank you to the foundation for your help and care for my daughter. Unfortunately, my husband drinks and does not take care of his family and children. Thanks to your classes with children, my daughter has become more confident and has become interested in painting. I see how she has changed for the better. I am looking forward to Saturday to come to your master classes.
In this difficult time for our family, a loaf of bread is a huge help for our family
KHARKIV REGION
ZNAMENKA
My name is Vasyl Hryhorovych, I am 56 years old and a person with a Group 3 disability.
I live alone. Every week, I go to receive free bread. I sincerely thank the Foundation and the sponsors who help us with free bread. I wish everyone good health!
BERESTYN
Valentyna Pavlivna, 74 years old. A pensioner living alone, her pension is not enough to cover basic needs.
She expresses her heartfelt gratitude for the support provided by the foundation and says: “Thank you for taking care of people for three years already!”
Kharkiv, Kamyana Yaruga, Mala Danylivka
This week, the situation in Kharkiv and surrounding areas remained relatively calm — no new shelling was reported. However, the consequences of previous attacks are still being felt: some districts continue to live under scheduled power restrictions due to damage to the energy infrastructure.
Despite these challenging conditions, our foundation’s team continued its active fieldwork. Over the course of the week, we organized six support sessions for children and teenagers. These gatherings provide a safe and vital space for emotional release, social connection, and psychological support.
For families in difficult life circumstances (DLC), we hosted a charitable meal, offering hot food to those in need. In addition, we distributed bread, food parcels, and vegetable seedlings for home cultivation — all made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors.
Access to medicine remains a critical challenge. We receive many urgent requests, and unfortunately, it is not always possible to respond to every one.
A highlight of the week was our “T-Shirt Day” — a joyful event for children and adults alike, where participants designed and painted their own t-shirts. The day was filled with smiles, bright colors, and genuine joy. In moments like these, life shines through — even in the midst of war.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who supports our work. Your help brings humanity and warmth to places where it is most needed.
We continue to hold workshops for people with special needs on creating their own personal keepsake boxes.
Dnipropetrovsk Region – Nikopol
This week, our team continued its dedicated work in the city of Nikopol. The local assistance center operated as usual, and thanks to the efforts of our volunteers, we ensured the fair distribution of drinking water to a large number of residents in need.
A key focus of our work remains supporting people with limited mobility. We continue fundraising for water containers, purchasing demijohns, filling them, and delivering them directly to the homes of those who are unable to care for themselves. This time, 80 demijohns were purchased and distributed to individuals for whom this support is truly life-sustaining.
Among the aid recipients is Ms. Nina Karbovska, a pensioner with a serious medical condition. She is raising her underage grandson, Mykyta, on her own after the tragic loss of both of his parents to suicide. Nina is left with no support system — and yet she finds the strength every day to keep going, for her grandson’s sake. Her greatest wish is to live long enough to see Mykyta grow up and to pass him into safe, caring hands.
We often see her at the playground, watching over Mykyta with quiet reverence — as if he were the most precious treasure in her life.
Thanks to your continued support, we are able to stand by people like Nina. Our assistance is not just about water or food — it is about compassion, dignity, and the hope for a better future. Thank you for being with us.
Dnipropetrovsk Region – Nikopol District, Mendeliivka Village
On Sunday, May 18, our team set out early in the morning to reach one of the most remote points of the Nikopol district — the village of Mendeliivka. The journey took over three hours due to the extremely poor condition of the road, which was already difficult to navigate even before the war. Today, it’s barely passable terrain — a real challenge for anyone trying to deliver aid.
Mendeliivka lies 80 kilometers from Nikopol. Along the way, we passed through the abandoned village of Myslyvske — once a vibrant and thriving community, now reduced to a cemetery and a bus stop on the highway. This is no longer an exception in the region, but rather a heartbreaking new norm.
We brought water to Mendeliivka. The entire Nikopol district has been left without access to any centralized water supply. Rivers and ponds have dried up. Due to climate change, severe drought, and the destruction of critical infrastructure, the region now faces conditions even more severe than Kherson — which was previously considered Ukraine’s most water-deprived area.
Mendeliivka is part of a nature reserve, home to rare bird and animal species. And yet, even in this uniquely rich environment, life is vanishing: crops are failing, small farms are collapsing, and elderly residents — left behind — struggle to survive in complete isolation.
Among them are women in their 90s who have never left the village. They have no way to get to the city or call for help. With no roads, aid rarely reaches them. That’s why we divided our delivery into two stages — one part of the water was brought this trip, and the rest will be delivered mid-week.
Even a heavy rainstorm, which made travel more difficult, could not stop us. Because for these people, every canister of water is a lifeline.
And thanks to your support, we are able to be the ones who show up — even when no one else can.
A Story from Mendeliivka — Through the Eyes of a Volunteer from the “Step With Hope” Foundation
Nikopol District, Dnipropetrovsk Region
I am now on the outskirts of the village of Mendeliivka.
Once, there was a pond here — a beautiful, peaceful place where locals would fish, and swans swam gracefully. Now, it’s just a dry plain. The people of this village used to draw water from this area to sustain their daily lives. Today — the source is gone.
Their only lifeline has become the help of a local farmer. He rents agricultural land from the villagers and has taken it upon himself to deliver five cubic meters of water per household per year. For context, an average apartment in the city uses around 20 cubic meters per month. And here — they survive on five for an entire year.
The water is delivered in a tank. It lasts only a few days. Those who can still move or have access to transport come to collect it themselves. But many — elderly people and those with disabilities — simply don’t have that ability.
There used to be a well in the village with a pump. But the equipment was stolen. The village was left without a water source. The well itself is now silted; the water level has dropped two meters below ground, and even the winter precipitation hasn’t improved the situation.
Before the full-scale war, the village had almost disappeared from the map, and life here was fading. But after the invasion began, internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marhanets and Nikopol moved in. They settled in abandoned houses and brought some life back to the village. But most families here are without men — they’ve been mobilized. Women and elderly people are left behind, and there’s hardly anyone left to work or care for the vulnerable.
The only remaining well is two kilometers from the village. In summer, a tractor comes there to draw technical water for farming. But if the farmer can no longer manage and is forced to stop — people will be left completely without water and without support.
This is the reality of the 21st century, in the very heart of Ukraine. And it is here that our team arrives — to help those who have been forgotten.
Your donations are not just water. They are life.
Continuing our work in the district, we proceeded to Marhanets, where we organized another ophthalmologist consultation. An additional 51 people received this much-needed and highly desired medical assistance.
During the one-week period, we distributed: 3,000 liters of water, 100 packs of Morshynska water in the district, 90 pairs of glasses, 9 boxes of rice, and 80 bottles of water to people with reduced mobility.
PAVLOGRAD
Svitlana Ivanivna, 58 years old, from Pavlohrad, is in need of food assistance. She is grateful for the help received.
KRYVYI RIH
Between May 15 and May 20, our team carried out several humanitarian missions along the following routes: Kryvyi Rih – Dnipro Kryvyi Rih District – Sofiivka and surrounding hromadas
During these visits, we provided support to vulnerable communities through:
Distribution of seedlings for home gardening
Provision of bread to families in need
Psychosocial support and counseling sessions
In Kryvyi Rih city, our work continued both at the volunteer center and the overnight shelter for displaced persons and individuals in difficult life circumstances (IDPs and vulnerable groups). There, we were able to deliver:
Fresh bread
Hot meals to 70 people in need
Clothing and inclusive mobility aids (with home delivery for people with disabilities)
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are able to reach those who are most at risk — offering not only basic necessities but also dignity, care, and connection.
Your support helps us continue this vital work. Thank you for standing with us.
Sofiivska Hromada
Received 100 loaves of bread for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and socially vulnerable families, including large families, unemployed individuals, and people with disabilities.
Heartfelt and sincere thanks to the benefactors for this regular and much-appreciated assistance.
KAMIANSKE
Address delivery of humanitarian aid to IDPs in the city.
A social pantry (or social cupboard) for internally displaced persons and low-income community members.
Provision of laundry services for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Psychosocial program for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
A charity meal for internally displaced persons and low-income community members.
Distribution of eyeglasses to internally displaced persons and low-income citizens.
My name is Lina, 66 years old, a resident of Mariupol.
My husband and grandson and I left our hometown at the beginning of the war because it was very dangerous. Our house was destroyed, and we rent an apartment in Kamianske.
I thank the sponsors and the Step with Hope Foundation for the very important work you are doing to help displaced people in this difficult time for us.
Massage services.
Kamianske, left bank. Distribution of bread to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and socially vulnerable groups.
My name is Tetyana. We left Avdiivka.
I have been living with my husband in Kamianskyi since April 2022. We are renting a one-room apartment on the left bank. We are very grateful to the “Step with HOPE” foundation and their partners “Ukraine Trust Chain” for the help with bread.
Since my husband is a pensioner and I cannot work due to poor health, these few loaves of bread play a significant role for us, because bread is not cheap now, and life in principle is. You are the only one in the city who provides help with bread.
Thank you for caring people and stable support.
Psycho-Social Support Report
The past few weeks have been filled with deep, warm, and meaningful moments for our team. Our focus remains on support, healing, and the sense of unity. We are pleased to share the highlights from our psycho-social support work.
“A Heart in Embroidery” — A Gathering That Touched the Soul
This was more than just an event — it was a heartfelt conversation with our roots. We came together for a “soulful gathering” to connect through words, songs, traditional patterns, and memory.
Each participant completed the sentence: “For me, the vyshyvanka (embroidered shirt) is…” The answers were full of truth: home, childhood, parents, loss, and cherished heritage.
Tears welled up, but they were healing tears — of a connection that endures even in the hardest times.
We explored the history of the vyshyvanka, the symbolism behind its colors and ornaments, and painted our own designs — filling them with love, hope, and faith.
And we sang Ukrainian songs that touched something deep within.
Even those who came without an embroidered shirt left with one in their hearts — and warm hugs to carry forward.
“Anti-Stress: Burnout Prevention” — Every Tuesday, a Space for Healing
Every Tuesday, we create a safe space for breathing out, slowing down, and simply being.
During these gatherings, we talk about managing stress, preventing burnout, and how to restore ourselves even when strength seems to have run out.
Participants share, listen, and receive practical tools to use in daily life.
The feedback says it all: better sleep, reduced anxiety, greater clarity, and renewed inner strength.
Most importantly — here, no one needs to be “strong” or “perfect.” It’s enough just to be yourself.
Art Therapy — When Self-Care Becomes Accessible
Our art therapy sessions are about resources — simple ways to support yourself gently.
There’s no need to know how to draw. What matters is being in a safe, accepting space where you’re seen, heard, and valued.
Small groups, a calm atmosphere, and creative processes that ease tension.
Participants often say: this is the first time in a long while they’ve felt truly alive.
Regional Mentorship Forum — The Foundation Among Leaders of Change
This week, our colleague Iryna Zhabrovets, Head of our Training & Education Center, represented the foundation at the regional forum “United by Mentorship” held in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
Our foundation was proudly represented, and Iryna received recognition for her constructive proposals on implementing and developing mentorship for orphaned children.
This is a vital part of our mission — to be present where change is taking shape and to offer real, sustainable solutions. We believe that mentorship is a bridge between a child and trust in the world — a powerful tool to transform lives through relationships.
Thank you for standing with us. Every act of support you offer is a part of the warmth, strength, and hope we pass on each day. Together, we help heal hearts, restore resilience, and carry light to the places that need it most.
Total for the period from 05/12/2025 to 05/18/2025
People served: 7800 people + 6600 people received bread
Issued: 20550 kg of products
The work was carried out in the following regions and cities:
