А circle of life and love

We recently made a mission to a family we have supported for a few years now – 7 school age kids, working Mom and disabled Dad, whose house has been pretty much damaged by the shellings of the Ukrainian Army. The family applied to our fund for help with food for the kids, and of course, we did what we could – we brought them LOTS of different cereals, flour, sugar, canned meat, canned fish, mandarins, apples, macaroni products, oil, butter, cheese, waffles, cookies, candies! And, of course, the presents for kids they usually like most – 2 swings and a tepee! During our last visit, we learned the Mom did laundry for the whole family by hand! So, we went on a search for a washing machine, and came up with a good one – for FREE!! Our friend Luis Castaneda, President of Donbass Little League was very grateful, (as were the kids!) when ‘Donbass Humanitarian Aid’ bought enough new gear to equip two more teams in the league. And Luis recently bought a new washing machine for his own family. He heard about our search and generously had his old machine refurbished into perfect working condition and donated it to us for the Makeevka family. It just goes to show that what goes around comes around, and one good deed begets another. Yes, times are tough these days, all over, but a little kindness and generosity, especially at Christmas time, goes a long way, and it’s good for the soul. We should all always remember the old saying, “There but for the Grace of God, go I.” So, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

On the road with Saint Nicholas

Family orphanage

Family orphanage

Family orphanage

Family orphanage

Family orphanage

Family orphanage

We got back from a long range mission to a 12 kid family orphanage in Dokuchayevsk. About 40 km down south on rough roads, just a couple of klicks from the Front. Their house has been hit more than once by artillery of the Ukrainian Army, but they still manage to have a beautiful home for the kids. We brought more than 50 kilos of different kinds of cereals, apples, mandarins, cookies and candy, along with three swings and a wigwam for the kids to play in. Father Boris told the story of the real Saint Nicholas, and we even sang some Christmas songs in English!

Saint Nicholas Asks Us to Help 20 Children

Saint Nicholas today brought us to the big friendly the Kovalevs family, where there is one mother (her husband died several years ago) and twenty adopted children. This is a family-type orphanage in one of the districts of Donetsk. We have known this family for several years, and this year we came to visit them on St. Nicholas Day with many gifts, among which, first of all, such a necessary for all of them – VACUUM CLEANER! It is not easy to clean up a two-story house with a broom in hand. Following the example of St Nicholas, in addition to the basic need, we brought the children a lot of tasty and healthy food, and also pleased with the wigwams and swings so that children’s laughter will always sound in the house in cold weather and in the yard in warm weather, and there will be sparks of fun and joy in the eyes of all residents. And all this became possible thanks to those people who, like Saint Nicholas, love God and people! Thank you all! And in honor of the holiday, the children prepared their own small festive program for our arrival, in which they showed us with pleasure what they can do.

Saint Nicholas Day in Torez

Torez

Torez

Torez

Torez

Torez

Torez

Torez

Torez

Torez

Thanks to everyone who helped to please 50 children from large families of Torez and Khartsyzsk on the occasion of St. Nicholas Day, as well as families with disabled children and cancer patients, as well as children who do not have parents. Thanks to your donations, our Foundation has purchased tangerines, apples, cookies, waffles, ‘Kontik’ sandwiches, ten different types of chocolates, waffle, jelly and sucking sweets. All this was formed into 50 gift sets. Thanks a lot to our assistants! The sets turned out to be quite weighty – enough to make every child’s eyes shine with happiness on St. Nicholas Day! The gifts were handed out by our wonderful Santa Claus, Russell Bentley, who was brought to the children by Saint Nicholas himself. He brought him to a very warm, sincere festival in one of the restaurants in Torez, where 25 children with their parents were able to come, the rest of the children got their gift sets at home and at the boarding school of Kharzyzsk. Unfortunately, because of the quarantine, we were not allowed to hand them over in person. And the wonderful show was organized by the sunny, sincere guys and girls from ‘Kind Hearts’ volunteer theater group. Thank you very much to everyone who contributed to this holiday! And our Father Boris blessed all those present. We thank him very much for his spiritual guidance to children, and adults too. Thanks for his wise words. Let the life of St. Nicholas always be an example for us to which we should all strive! Happy holiday, dear friends!

DJ/karaoke system

karaoke

Karaoke

Mattress for disabled person

“Khartsyzsk city society of disabled people “Sparkle” is immensely grateful to Russell Bonner Bentley and to the fund “Donbass Humanitarian Aid” for helping our ward with disabilities, a disabled person of the first group, in purchasing a mattress with a compressor to prevent bed sores. At our request, the Fund acquired and delivered to the destination, such a cherished and so necessary thing to a bedridden man. On the eve of the International Day of the Disabled, this is a very good gift for a person who needed it. Thank you very much, Russell, good luck in all your good deeds! Low bow to you, good people!”  

Mattresses, blankets and sheets for orphans 

Khangenkovo

Khangenkovo

Khangenkovo

Khangenkovo

Khangenkovo

Khangenkovo

This time, tears of joy for the grandmother, who is raising six children, could not be hidden. After all, the conditions in which children now live are getting better with every visit of the volunteers of our Foundation. Winter is right around the corner. Children sleep under thin blankets on awful old mattresses that have seen long, long service. This time we brought them three new good quality mattresses, eight new warm blankets and eight new sets of bed linen. Special thanks to Elena and Sofia for educational toys, clothes and dishes! Another good deed for the glory of God. Thanks to everyone who contributes to our work. Soldiers on, on the side of good, with peace in souls.

Our help to single mothers

Single mothers

Single mothers

The mother of three children Olga from the Budyonnovsky district of Donetsk has an older daughter who is disabled from birth. Her father abandoned them. Olga also has two sons– two healthy boys. They are 9 and 6 years old. Very active mobile children – go to acrobatics and martial arts courses! Now Olga receives only a pension for the girl and a little support from the republic, which is what the whole family lives on. Has a higher education, but cannot work because of constant childcare. “Donbass Humanitarian Aid” purchased for the family three sets of bed linen, a large towel, many medicines, and also brought two packs of diapers donated earlier by Alexander from Kuleshovka, Russia. Once again, many thanks to him!
Single mom Helen lives in the Kievsky district of Donetsk. An orphan herself, was raised by her grandparents. Unfortunately, they have already died too. Her daughter Sophia, a schoolgirl, is a gifted child. This little family is having a difficult time right now. Helen has no job now, and therefore no means of subsistence. Until she is back on her feet, we helped them with food, cleaning supplies and detergents, personal hygiene products, and also bought school supplies for Sofia. Being in a difficult situation themselves, Helen and Sofia donated through our foundation two tea sets, two teapots, clothes from which Sofia has already grown up, many toys and two baby baths for bathing babies for other people in need. As well as the dressing table and sideboard in good condition are waiting for those who need them

Wrestling Tournament 2020

“Donbass Humanitarian Aid” Fund once again has become one of the sponsors of the 5^th Greco-Roman Wrestling Tournament in memory of Vasily Bagrov,  a famous Donetsk coach, Master of Sports of the USSR. The event took place on October 3^rd, 2020 at the ‘Kirovets’ Sports Palace in Donetsk. We helped to purchase prizes for the 1^st places taken – the Wi-Fi speakers, the medals, the cups, the sweets, as well as the mugs with commemorative tournament symbols.
Wrestling is a very serious sport that provides a person with valuable lessons not only on the mat, but also in everyday life. Especially valuable in our difficult wartime is that the guys are not left to their own devices on the street, but under the guidance of experienced trainers they learn to work on themselves and personal responsibility, develop physical skills and psychological stability, discipline that will always help them. Struggle unites different cultures and nationalities, and develops the strength of camaraderie. And in the end, wrestling is fun!
We are proud to help the guys with this.

Baseball in Donetsk

Back in July 2019 we started a fundraiser for the Donetsk Little League of baseball.
Well, almost 8 months and a lot of hard work later, the first shipment has arrived from the USA.  And now, in August 2020, another cargo arrived from Moscow. Kind people sent us sports equipment for free. Our foundation delivered the entire inventory to the children’s baseball team. Kids and coaches were very happy. We thank our Moscow friends for such a gift to the children of Donbass!