By Yuliia Magera | Donors' stewardship manager
For children who have lost one or both parents because of the war in Ukraine, support must continue as their families' needs change. Alongside education, psychological support and medical care, Children of Heroes Charity Fund provides humanitarian assistance to help families meet essential everyday needs.
Between August and October 2026, this assistance became particularly important as Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure caused prolonged power cuts, while displacement and financial difficulties placed further pressure on families.
Practical support for hundreds of children and families
Over these three months, the Fund provided:
Each form of assistance addresses a different need. For families displaced by shelling, essential supplies can help them settle into a new home. For those experiencing prolonged power cuts, access to backup electricity can make everyday life more manageable.
When a family loses its home
Hanna is raising two sons, Petro and Maksym, in a village in western Ukraine. Their father has been missing since July 2025, and the family is still waiting for news of his whereabouts.
Both boys attend school and are doing well in their studies. But with limited employment opportunities in their village, maintaining a stable income is difficult. Hanna takes occasional work on a local farm to help cover the family's expenses.
Recently, the family faced another crisis. An electrical fault caused a fire that completely destroyed their home, leaving it beyond repair.
A local farmer helped Hanna and her sons find temporary accommodation. At the same time, Children of Heroes Charity Fund provided food parcels and footwear, helping the family meet essential needs in the immediate aftermath of the fire.
The assistance could not replace what the family had lost, but it addressed practical needs at a time when they were dealing with the loss of their home.
Hanna continues to care for her sons and manage the family's everyday needs. Maksym, who was particularly affected by the fire, is receiving support from his school psychologist.
Keeping the lights on for Yelyzaveta's family
Thirteen-year-old Yelyzaveta lost her father in September 2022. Her mother, Tamila, has been caring for the family while facing ongoing financial difficulties.
As attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure continue, access to electricity has become increasingly uncertain for many households. For families already managing limited resources, purchasing a generator can be difficult.
The Fund provided Yelyzaveta's family with a generator, giving them access to backup electricity during power cuts.
In a message to the Fund, Tamila expressed her appreciation: “Thank you so much to the Fund and its supporters for helping not only my family, but so many others.”
Understanding what families need
Humanitarian support is not limited to distributing essential items. The Fund considers each family's circumstances to determine what assistance is needed.
We also monitor whether the support makes a practical difference. During the first half of 2026,
78% of surveyed recipients of food parcels reported spending less on groceries, while 97% of surveyed recipients of hygiene kits reported reduced spending on hygiene essentials.
These findings help us understand how assistance contributes to household budgets and where further support may be needed.
Why continued support matters
As Ukraine faces another winter of war, families are dealing with increasingly difficult conditions. Electricity outages can last for days, making basic household tasks more challenging. Families displaced from frontline areas may have to establish new homes while facing limited employment opportunities and rising living costs.
These challenges do not end after a single delivery of assistance. For children who have lost a parent, needs continue to change as they grow up and their family circumstances evolve.
Through our humanitarian programmes and wider long-term support, we work to respond to these needs as they arise.
Your continued support can help us reach more children and families with the practical assistance they need.
Thank you for standing alongside Ukrainian children and helping us continue this work.
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