The scent of aromatic herbs fills the small kitchen of an old Khrushchev-era apartment in the modest town of Snihurivka in Mykolaivska Oblast. Here, pensioner Valentyna leisurely prepares tea for herself and her friend, pouring the hot drink into a new thermos.
This thermos is part of a non-food item kit that the woman recently received thanks to the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services.” The kit also included a mattress, a sleeping bag, a thermal blanket, a power bank, and a flashlight.
The woman is grateful for everything, as little survived the occupation of her hometown, and she has no one to turn to for help since she lives alone and receives a small pension.
“I never thought that at 73 I would have to endure such hardships,” says Valentyna, holding back tears. “A month of occupation, we hid in basements in -10°C. Thanks to people I know, I managed to escape to Mykolaiv, where I lived for eight months. When I heard that Snihurivka had been liberated, I returned home immediately. But everything is damaged here: the house has cracks, the windows are gone, the roof leaks…”
Valentyna recalls that immediately after the occupation, volunteers began registering those who were left homeless or in need of assistance. One of the first to respond was the CO “Stabilization Support Services.” They repaired homes, installed windows, and replaced roofs. This support did not stop with repairs: the team continued to assist residents by providing the essentials needed to live in difficult conditions.
“We are very grateful that we are not forgotten, that help keeps coming. Every item is so important to us. The power bank I received from your foundation the other day — I could never afford it on my pension. The mattress is of such good quality, and the blanket is very nice. To have something new, clean, your own again — that’s such happiness. Everything came in handy, everything is so needed…” says Valentyna.
Since the liberation, life in Snihurivka is gradually returning to normal, but it is a slow and difficult process. Many buildings remain destroyed, and numerous apartments stand empty. According to Anna Vasylenko, the regional coordinator of the CO SSS in Mykolaivska Oblast, people are returning, but there are far fewer than before the war, and now the town is mainly inhabited by lonely retired people.
“Our team is working to provide local residents with the essentials for daily life. We understand that recovery takes time, and while homes are being repaired, it’s important that people have basic items for comfort. That’s why we distribute non-food item kits. They help people stay warm, access electricity even during outages, and create at least a minimal sense of coziness at home,” says Anna Vasylenko, adding that this season, 400 community residents have already received such assistance.
This publication was prepared as part of the Lifesaving: Protection, Shelter, and WASH for War-Affected Regions project, implemented by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” in partnership with the charitable organization Malteser International and with the support of Aktion Deutschland Hilft.