Updated 1/28/26 – Raised $4,860 (97 out of 100 homes sponsored!)
For February, we are launching a focused emergency project to support widows and at-risk families within our network. These are the same widows whom we recently provided Christmas packages and calendars (see the photos!).
This past week has been extremely difficult for families across Ukraine. Russian forces have intensified nightly bombardments with missiles and drones, targeting energy infrastructure and civilian areas.
In the Kyiv region, including surrounding towns and villages, rolling blackouts remain common each day, cutting the power to thousands of homes each day from 2 to 8 hours on average. The other day, a friend said they did’t have power for 12hrs. Temperatures this winter have regularly dropped to -10°C to -18°C (14°F to 0°F), with colder nights in rural areas.
For the elderly, especially widows living alone, these conditions are exhausting and at times dangerous. Many pensioners live on less than $80 per month. This energy stipend may not seem like a lot to Westerner, but it’s a massive blessing and gives them peace of mind to heat their homes without sacrificing food, and other essentials. Today I spoke with a friend in Ukraine who shared that many elderly people are bundled up inside their homes, wearing multiple layers and dressed as if they were outdoors, even while indoors.
We are thankful that many Ukrainian homes still rely on older gas furnaces that do not require electricity and have continued operating. Even with the electricity off and the gas still flowing, many grandmothers and families are carefully rationing their heat, warming only one room.
If you are able, please consider sponsoring a home for $50, and let’s make February the warmest month for as many as we can, rather than the coldest!
Our plan is simple and direct:
– Provide 2,000 UAH (about $50 USD) per household
– This amount is typically enough to allow families to heat their homes fully and safely for the month
– Support 100 households, including widows and poorer families with children
Total project goal: $5,000 USD
To ensure integrity and wise stewardship:
– We will pay gas bills directly, applying funds toward each household’s February balance.
– We are already compiling verified lists of homes and account numbers.
– Our local volunteer teams are mobilized to deliver this assistance quickly
