Volunteer stories: “Arms of Mercy” helps those in need

Project: Strengthening resilience and protecting food security of internally displaced people in Eastern Ukraine.

Anastasia Leonidivna, a volunteer of the “Arms of Mercy” charitable foundation from Zaporizhzhia, shared touching stories of women who turned to the foundation for help.

One of them, a 62-year-old woman, told her tragic story during registration. During the year, she lost her husband and son, she saw their death with her own eyes. The pain from this loss still does not subside, and the woman feels fear and confusion. In addition, she comes from the Zaporizhzhia region, and her house was destroyed during shelling. Alone with no home and loved ones, the woman did not know how to live.

While pouring her heart out, she could not hold back tears. Touched by the woman’s story, Anastasia stopped the paperwork and wanted to share the pain of loss with her, they were crying together. “It was impossible to hold back emotions when you see such grief. We tried to support her, talked about hope and faith in God, who can give comfort,” the volunteer recalls.

The woman sincerely thanked the foundation for its help and support. Thanks to this, she felt that she was not alone in her grief and that there were people ready to care for her.

Anastasia told another story about a 25-year-old woman who came for food assistance with two small children under the age of three. The woman was very withdrawn and reluctant to answer the volunteers’ questions. When she was asked if any of her relatives had been killed or injured during the shelling, she gave a nod of affirmation and could not hold back her tears. It turned out that half a year ago, the woman, together with her husband and children, moved to Zaporizhzhia, seeking shelter from constant shelling in her city.

However, the man was going back to their house from time to time to check on the house. During one of these visits, another shelling began, and the man was killed by missile fragments. The house was also destroyed. The young woman was left alone with two small children to take care of. “She provided us with documents confirming the death of her husband as a result of multiple shrapnel wounds. It was obvious that this tragedy deeply affected the woman, and she is still experiencing the pain of loss, trying to hold on for the sake of her children,” Anastasia shares her observations.

These stories emphasize how it is important to provide not only material aid but also moral support for people who have lost loved ones due to war. Volunteers often become the ones who listen and empathize, helping victims through the most difficult moments of their lives. Anastasia notes that although the foundation’s head office is in Chernivtsi, “Arms of Mercy” helps people all over Ukraine.

We are sincerely grateful to our partners, in particular the international organization World Vision and our donor GIRO 555, for their support and cooperation. Our joint efforts have enabled us to assist more individuals who find themselves in difficult circumstances as a result of the war. Our collaboration is crucial – we provide hope and support to those who require it most.

The foundation’s help is reflected in the people’s words of gratitude as confirmation that the work of volunteers and philanthropists truly improves lives.