How Assistance Saves Lives: Stories of People Who Found Hope Again

This is part of the project “Providing Multi-Sectoral Humanitarian Assistance to Conflict-Affected Populations in Ukraine.” The project is implemented in partnership with the international organization World Vision with the support of the U.S. Government.

Sometimes a single phone call can change everything. When someone calls a charity foundation, their voice often carries despair, exhaustion from battling circumstances that seem impossible to overcome. But there are also other calls—those filled with gratitude and hope. These are the voices of people whose timely assistance gave them a chance for a new life.

The charitable foundation “Arms of Mercy” encounters such stories every day, reminding us how fragile human life can be and how important it is to provide support at critical moments.

Viktor: When Home Becomes a Memory

Viktor from the village of Tomakivka has lived for years in a reality unimaginable to those who have never lost something truly precious—their home. His story began with a tragic accident: his father invited friends over, and one guest fell asleep with a cigarette. The resulting fire not only took a life but also destroyed the family’s home.

“As long as I worked, I could afford to rent housing,” Viktor recalls. But when he retired, everything changed. His pension was not enough even for modest rent. Now, he lives in a small temporary structure in his own yard—where his family house once stood.

Building a new home on his own is impossible: materials and costs are far beyond the means of a lonely pensioner. That is why financial support from the foundation became a symbol for him—proof that he was not left alone with his tragedy.

When Treatment Can’t Wait

A man in his fifties came to the foundation’s office in Tomakivka. His anxiety was so obvious that it was immediately clear—this was an emergency.

His wife was in critical condition and needed urgent surgery. Time was working against them—every day of delay could cost her life. But how to pay for treatment when all savings had already gone to tests and consultations?

The financial support received from the foundation was a lifesaver for the family. The funds arrived just in time and were spent directly on the operation, giving the woman a chance to recover and return to normal life.

“With tears in his eyes, the man sincerely thanked us for this opportunity,” the foundation staff recall. He emphasized that without this support, his family simply would not have been able to raise the needed sum.

Loneliness at 75 and a Broken Boiler

Last autumn, a 75-year-old woman who lives alone reached out to us. Her problem was a broken boiler, which is a big problem for an elderly person living alone.

The repair cost was about 8,000 UAH. For a pensioner with a small pension, it was an impossible amount—she would have had to save for months, cutting back on essentials. But the cold season would not wait, and each day of delay meant the risk of facing winter without heat.

She worried constantly that she would not manage the repair in time. She already imagined herself spending the winter in a freezing apartment, possibly forced to move to distant relatives or seek temporary shelter.

Help from the foundation saved her. The boiler was repaired on time, and she welcomed the winter in warmth and safety.

Dmytro: Trouble Never Comes Alone

The hardest thing is when disaster strikes an entire family at once. Dmytro from Slovyansk experienced this firsthand. His ordeal began the day he came under enemy shelling. The stress and shock led to a stroke that completely changed his life.

Now Dmytro lives with his elderly parents, who themselves need constant care. His father is battling cancer, requiring ongoing expensive treatment. His mother, shaken by trauma, began losing her eyesight and urgently needed cataract surgery.

Imagine the situation: three adults, each in need of medical care, and none able to work and earn money for treatment.

The foundation’s financial support became a lifeline for Dmytro’s family during this overwhelming crisis. The funds covered treatment for the entire family—supporting his father’s fight against cancer and paying for his mother’s urgent surgery.

Each of these stories could have had a very different ending if not for timely assistance.

Learn more about the project and ways to help.