Meet three seniors tapping remarkable strength to persevere in Ukraine: WCK reaches Ukraine’s seniors
In Ukraine, seniors are showing strength and persevering in unfathomable challenges. Across the country, many older residents are enduring life in villages once under Russian occupation or heavy bombardment, staying in homes that are damaged or without basic utilities. World Central Kitchen is committed to delivering food kits, hot meals, and clean water to seniors who remain in their homes. Our deliveries offer a lifeline; in the process, they offer us inspiration.
Stories of Survival and Courage
Nina, a great-grandmother from Arkhangelske in the Kherson region, embodies a spirit of resilience and love for those she holds dear. When the Russians invaded, she made the heart-wrenching decision to stay behind, even as her family fled, because she couldn’t bear to abandon her small farm and animals. “I was born here,” she said, explaining her bond to the land and its creatures.
Staying came at a heavy cost. While cleaning up debris after an attack, Nina stepped on a mine, ultimately losing an eye and her hearing and sustaining serious injuries. With no access to adequate medical care, she took on her recovery alone–setting her broken leg herself. She relies on the help of her granddaughter. Despite these losses, she finds joy in the presence of her great-granddaughter, a bright light in her life.
After initially rebuilding her home from damage caused by shelling, Nina’s house was struck again in the summer, this time forcing her to move in with nearby relatives. WCK still brings food to Nina and her new surrounding community, ensuring they feel supported and cared for.
In the nearby village of Knyazivka, Nadiya and her husband returned after de-occupation to find their home destroyed. “With all the debris, there wasn’t even a spot to sit down,” Nadiya said. They began to rebuild while living in their 40-square-foot summer kitchen, the only part of the house inhabitable. For Nadiya, the WCK food deliveries have been a crucial source of support as they work to repair their home. “Even one food kit makes all the difference,” she explains.
The resilience of Kherson’s people is astounding.
Kateryna
Regional Lead for the Kherson region and Kryvyi Rih
Delivering Hope to the Frontlines
Kateryna, our Regional Lead for the Kherson region and Kryvyi Rih, has a similar experience in her work at WCK. She’s witnessed the strength of the seniors who remain in war-damaged homes. “These communities were located along the frontline, so the destruction here is immense,” she said. “While younger people often manage to leave, seniors stay, living in garages, annexes, or sheds when their homes are too damaged to repair.”
“The resilience of Kherson’s people is astounding,” Katya explains. “We provide them with food kits, which make a huge difference, especially for those who can no longer cook or shop for themselves.”
Katya and her team face serious logistical challenges as they work to provide food and water to isolated communities. They tackle these obstacles with determination, often driving long distances on rugged, war-damaged roads to reach settlements that are far from major cities and rarely receive aid. “Unfortunately, we can’t solve the problem of bad roads,” Katya says, “so we just head out and help.”
Olha receiving a WCK food kit.
The northern Chernihiv region has also been afflicted by heavy fighting, leaving many senior residents in similar situations. Olha took shelter in her basement during an attack in March 2022. Doing so saved her life, but the rest of her house was destroyed by the nighttime shelling.
Julia is the Regional Lead for Kherson’s southern region and Mykolaiv. Her team delivers food and clean water to the people most at risk in these regions.
“In some places, neighbors come together to cook for multiple households,” Julia explains. “I’ve seen a young woman in Dniprovske cooking over an open fire (due to the lack of electricity or gas) for her neighbors who are unable to cook for themselves because of their age or health limitations. It has become a kind of mini-community kitchen, where two or three households support one another.”
The lack of utilities and infrastructure in these areas make food deliveries vital. “We strive to provide multifaceted assistance,” said Julia. “Along with food kits, we deliver bread and drinking water, both of which are essential. In the hardest-hit areas, families have no other way to access clean water.”
We strive to provide multifaceted assistance.
Julia
Regional Lead for Kherson’s southern region and Mykolaiv
With winter approaching, the need for food and clean water has never been more urgent for seniors. Many people are living in homes without functioning or reliable electricity and heat, and WCK is steadfast in our commitment to deliver critical aid. We’re distributing hot meals and essential food kits, including seasonal vegetable packages that empower families to cook for themselves. We’re also providing clean water for drinking and meal preparation. While the challenges can change, our mindset doesn’t. We’re continuously evolving and tackling challenges to address the needs of those at greatest risk, including seniors.
Watch to learn about evacuations from frontline regions and meet more seniors navigating the difficult circumstances of war.
Help us support families and seniors living in Ukraine.
