Over the last few days, our Winter Hugs winter humanitarian programme has delivered almost 800 sleeping bags to Kherson, where many people have been living without electricity for over a year and are preparing to face winter without hot water or central heating.

Launched just three weeks ago with our partner Union of Help to Kherson, our campaign has taken on an exceptional dimension thanks to the mobilisation of our American donor Hope for Ukraine, who had already supported us with our football programme for amputees. Their generous support enabled us to purchase 640 sleeping bags. And with your help, we can go even further.

Recently, the Russian army has also been attacking gas infrastructures throughout the country, with the aim of depriving the population of heating and hot water. This is what prompted us to take swift action, and it is thanks to the Union of Help to Kherson on the ground and Hope for Ukraine that we are able to carry out this action without delay.

Our credo remains the same: “Micro humanitarian instant impact.” Micro-humanitarianism with an immediate impact. And the word immediate is essential. 

To illustrate this, here are the stages in this operation, a perfect example of the responsiveness that guides all our actions:

• On 25 September, a telephone call was made to the Union of Help to Kherson to assess winter needs and anticipate the destruction of infrastructure. The decision was taken to opt for sleeping bags, the quickest, most effective and most affordable solution.
• 27 September, launch of the programme.
• 9 October (morning), contact with several partners, including Hope for Ukraine.
• 9 October (evening), reply from their CEO, who wants to analyse our needs with us.
• 12 October, support confirmed.
• 14 October, the funds leave the United States.
• 15 October, arrival in France, then immediate transfer to Ukraine.
• 16 October, ordering sleeping bags and refuelling the volunteer vehicles.
• 21 October, delivery of equipment to the local team.
• 22 October, first distributions.
• 27 October, end of distributions, total operational success and very positive feedback from beneficiaries.

This is what immediate impact means: an operation deployed in a month, from the first needs assessment to the end of delivery to beneficiaries.

A bag costs 15 euros. A donation now will keep a person or a family warm all winter long. We are a voluntary 100% team, with no overheads. 100% donations go into the field.