With 15 euros, we shelter one person from the cold for a whole winter. That is the idea behind Winter Hugs, our winter program, which we are relaunching this month.

This program will take place in the Kherson region, one of the hardest-hit regions of Ukraine. As last year, we are running it with our friends and partners at Union of Help to Kherson (biz.ks.ua). Last winter, we distributed nearly 4,000 sleeping bags to people in the region. Our goal this year: to do even more.

Because the situation has not changed. If anything, it is worse. The Russians keep striking the country’s energy facilities: power plants, power lines, gas infrastructure. When they go down, entire buildings are left without light, heating and sometimes hot water, with temperatures falling below zero.

This year, we are buying two things:

• sleeping bags, at about 15 euros each;
• lighting and electricity kits, also about 15 euros, to keep a minimum of light when the power is cut.

A donation of 15 euros means one person spends the winter warm. You don’t need a big cheque for it to count.

We are not starting from zero. A French donor has already made a first donation of 4,500 euros, which lets us start the operation without delay. We have also received substantial support from the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, which will allow us to start being truly effective.

But this project will keep us busy all winter, and it will go as far as your donations. As usual, we are counting on you. We are a 100% volunteer team with no overhead costs: everything you give goes to the field.

Thank you in advance, and thank you to everyone who has followed us since last winter.