We are grateful to share that with the support of our community, we were able to help a mother and her son in Ukraine through a critical surgery. 

This is Georgyi Kuznecov. He is a bright and kind 13 year old young man living in Chernivtsi, Ukraine. In the fall of 2024 he started suffering from what seemed to be epileptic seizures. After extensive medical testing it was revealed that he had a malformation in the right side of his brain that was creating an epilepsy-like syndrome. At that point it became clear that Georgyi required emergency surgery followed by extensive follow-up treatment and rehabilitation in order for him to remain healthy and thriving.

To proceed, his parents had to pay providers 170,000 hryvnia (over $4,000), an insurmountable sum for the family even in the pre-war times, let alone now. With your help, we have been able to provide part of the funds needed for this life-saving surgery.

George has successfully undergone his procedures and is now in recovery. His latest checkups show positive progress — and most importantly, no more epileptic activity. While he still needs time to rest and regain strength, his path forward is full of hope.

Georgyi’s mother shared her heartfelt message of gratitude to everyone who made this possible: “Thank you to all the people who helped my son with his surgery. Georgyi still needs a lot of rest but he is recovering, thank God! May goodness return to you a hundredfold.”

Moments like these remind us why we do this work. Together, we can bring hope, healing, and strength to families in need.

Over the past three years, Mending Roots has been working to support people in need through a variety of initiatives. One of our key focuses has been providing care and assistance to seniors in Ukraine.

This is a photo of one of our drives delivering bread and pastries to a senior center. Many of the residents were evacuated from the war zone to the Western part of Ukraine and no longer have family or anyone to support them. These small deliveries help us not only meet their basic needs but also connect with these seniors and remind them that they are not forgotten.

We’re grateful to everyone who helps us continue this mission. Together, we can make sure that no one feels forgotten.

Recently, we have received a request from compassionate people on the ground in Ukraine to assist an elderly man named Shvets Vasyl Petrovych, who is 71 years old and lives in Chernivtsi, whose apartment was severely damaged by a missile strike. Vasyl is one of the many elderly individuals deeply affected by the ongoing war.

On July 12, 2025, one of the largest attacks of the month was launched across Ukraine, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles across the country. The western city of Chernivtsi, was among those hit. At least two people were killed in the region, and Vasyl’s apartment building was damaged in the blast.

The explosion destroyed his kitchen and blew out all of the windows in the home, leaving his home exposed and unsafe - especially with winter approaching.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we were able to step in and repair Vasyl’s kitchen and replace the broken window, helping restore warmth, safety, and dignity to his life.

These are the moments that matter - restoring dignity and security, one person and one home at a time.

Lenochka’s story is one of resilience and survival. Before the war, she had already endured a nearly fatal car accident that left her disabled and dependent on a wheelchair. Despite the overwhelming odds, she survived, sustained by her optimism and love for life. It was this same spirit that helped her endure the unimaginable in Mariupol in the winter of 2022. For 18 days, she and nearly 200 others sheltered in basements under relentless shelling and explosions. Through what can only be described as a miracle, she managed to escape the besieged city and reach occupied territory - though her home, which had been carefully adapted for her mobility needs, was completely destroyed in the chaos.

Lenochka’s journey to safety was long and perilous, marked by constant bombardments, repeated evacuations to bomb shelters, and the devastating loss of her wheelchair. When she finally reached Zaporizhzhia (Ukrainian territory), she faced new obstacles, including an exhausting train ride to Kyiv where she was mistakenly assigned a top bunk in a sleeping car despite being in a wheelchair. Thankfully, kind strangers stepped in to exchange seats and ensure she could travel safely.

At last, her family was able to reunite at the Kyiv train station—a moment filled with tears, hugs, and profound relief. Given the ongoing war and the immense challenges faced by people with mobility needs in Ukraine, the family decided that the best course of action would be to arrange Lenochka’s transfer abroad for continued care and specialized treatment.

Her sister expressed deep appreciation to everyone who supported them on this long journey:

“Thank you to everyone who contributed to helping my Lenochka. Her journey has been unimaginably difficult, but your kindness and support have given her hope and the strength to keep going.”

The road ahead remains long, but thanks to the compassion of donors and supporters, Lenochka is no longer alone on her path to healing and safety.

Your donations helped to contribute to the purchase of a wheelchair for Lenochka - one she had lost during the horrors of the war, as well as critical medications she requires on an ongoing basis.

Nine-year-old Nastia is a talented young artist with a bright spirit and an even brighter imagination. Living with hip dysplasia, she has endured surgery and years of treatment with remarkable strength and resilience. Despite physical challenges and ongoing disruptions to school due to power outages, her love for art has never dimmed.

Nastia dreamed of having access to online art classes and a tablet that would allow her to continue creating - especially during long stretches without electricity. Art is more than a hobby for her; it is a refuge, a source of joy, and a way to focus on beauty even during difficult times.

Thanks to your generous donations, we were able to make Nastia’s dream come true. She now has her very own tablet - something she had long hoped for but never imagined possible.

Here is the message of gratitude we received from this sweet and determined young artist:

“Hi! My name is Nastia and I am 9 years old. I want to say a very, very BIG THANK YOU for my tablet!
It makes me so happy. I never had a tablet before, but I always dreamed of having one. I love to draw and always wanted to take online classes to learn different art techniques. And now my dream has come true - I have my own tablet! WOW

At first, I was supposed to use it mostly for art classes and new creative ideas. But since we often lose power, I also use it for school when classes go offline. It is like a big book with all information. It helps me continue learning even when the electricity is gone, and it keeps me busy when there is no power in our apartment.

I use it not only for art, but also a lot for studying, learning new things, and creating different ideas. Drawing helps me forget about difficult things and focus on something beautiful. With this tablet, I can study, learn new things, and make art. It makes me feel happy.

I also wanted to share my recent winter pictures that I made. Winter here is cold, but in my drawings it is magical and bright. I hope you like them.”

Your generosity has given this young girl more than a device - you have given her continuity in learning, creative expression, and a sense of hope. In a season marked by uncertainty and power outages, you helped restore light in a very real and meaningful way.

Thank you for believing in her and in the power of small dreams.

The help you continue to provide goes a long way. Part of the money has been used to feed a group of 195 refugees (some of them are children) who made their way from Luhansk (a city currently caught in the crossfire) to Chernivtsi, which is a city located in the Western part of Ukraine. These people have gone through incredible trauma, have lost their families, became orphans, and some have significant physical and mental health issues. The money has been sent to a volunteer group supporting these people. They have been purchasing groceries and taking turns cooking and delivering the food directly to the people in need.

Oksana Yehorova wanted us to share that she has used the money to buy much-needed medications and groceries. She now feels much more secure, knowing that she has some basic needs met for a little while given that the prices for groceries have doubled in the past few days. Oksana wanted to say thank you, and that she is sending blessings to you all and is wishing you all strong health and peaceful skies. Here is a picture of her and a very sweet Thank You card that she made by using a translator. She is choosing to pay your kindness forward by lovingly receiving a family with children who were fleeing from Kiev to Romania. It is all a beautiful circle of energy.

Thanks to your generosity, we were able to respond to a request for help from Children’s Residential Care Institution No. 4, located in Chernivtsi, Ukraine.

The institution cares for 129 children with disabilities and complex care needs, many of whom rely entirely on the facility for their daily meals and essential care. Their kitchen had been facing a serious challenge - they urgently needed a refrigerator to safely store food for the children.

Because of your support, we were able to purchase and deliver the refrigerator they needed. This simple but essential piece of equipment will help the staff safely store food, better prepare meals, and ensure that the children receive the nourishment and care they deserve each day.

Your generosity continues to make a real and tangible difference. What may seem like a small improvement can have a lasting impact on the daily lives of these children and the caregivers who work tirelessly to support them.

Thank you for helping us bring comfort, stability, and care to those who need it most.

With your help we were able to provide support to the family of Inna Mishalkina. Inna is 38 years old  and lives with her family of five: her husband, their two sons ages 7 and 15, and her elderly mother, Nadia, who is 68. Inna’s family is from Mykolaiv and they chose to stay there throughout the war. They decided not to  leave their city or country since they take care of Inna’s Mom as well as her husband’s parents, Elena & Valentin, who are 84 years old and unable to relocate. Inna lost her job when the war started. Her husband was drafted into the military on the third day of the war. Inna is  continuously searching for a job but hasn't found one yet.

Inna sent us a heartfelt thank you note: “We really appreciate your help as all the money goes to food and medicine for the parents. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

With your incredible help we were able to buy a generator for this beautiful family. Now Nataliia’s entire family, including her children, her Mom, her husband who has significant medical needs and their sweet kitty can be warm and have light during incredibly hard winters and it is all thanks to kind people like you!

Vera Petrenko and colleagues work at a school in Kyiv. When the war began, she was forced to be in a bomb shelter. In fact, for her and for many people in Kiev, the bomb shelter became their second home. She conveys profound gratitude to you all for the opportunity to buy the necessary food and clothes. They also adopted a cat who was left behind by people leaving Kyiv for Poland. She thanks everyone who helped her.

Thanks to the generosity of several incredible herbalists from Connecticut and New Hampshire, who so graciously donated handcrafted herbal medicines, we were able to send these remedies directly to Ukraine and distribute them to those in greatest need.

The messages we have received in return have been deeply moving. Recipients have shared profound gratitude, telling us that this medicine has brought real relief during a time of immense emotional and physical strain. With nervous systems pushed to their limits from ongoing stress and uncertainty, these natural remedies have offered comfort and grounding when it is needed most.

The timing could not have been more meaningful. As severe electricity outages continue, families are enduring long stretches of cold and darkness. In these difficult conditions, this medicine has brought not only physical warmth and support, but also a sense of care, connection, and hope.

We are so grateful to everyone who made this possible. Your generosity is reaching far beyond what you may realize.