During the harsh Ukrainian winter, temperatures became so severe that doors and locks froze shut, leaving some elderly residents trapped inside their homes for days.

In response, Feed The Hungry Australia recently provided a month’s supply of absorbent care pads for 500 elderly Ukrainians living on the front-lines. These simple but essential items help maintain dignity, comfort and mobility for those who are unable to access basic care.

Combined with emergency food assistance, this practical support has been deeply appreciated by some of the country’s most vulnerable people.

Feed The Hungry Australia is expanding its support for several European evangelists who regularly travel into Ukraine to distribute food and share the Gospel.

These evangelists spend months at a time serving communities before briefly returning home to replenish supplies and immediately heading back into Ukraine.

Currently, five evangelists are distributing around 80,000 meals each month. Thanks to generous supporters, that allocation is now being doubled to 160,000 meals.

Working alongside local churches, these outreach teams are focused on genuine discipleship and long-term ministry rather than short-term events. After years of emergency relief, many churches are now seeing opportunities not only to feed the hungry but also to strengthen believers, disciple new Christians and build God’s Kingdom.

The goal is simple: to care for the body, the soul and the spirit.

As Ukraine continues to focus its resources on the war effort, many social services have been overwhelmed. In countless communities, local churches have stepped in to meet practical needs.

Church buildings have become community hubs where families gather to receive food, charge mobile phones using generators, enjoy hot tea, and find encouragement during difficult times.

Pastors regularly visit families by name, building relationships through consistent care and practical service. Often, they disconnect their own household generators so entire neighbourhoods can benefit during food distributions.

These simple acts of kindness have transformed the reputation of local churches throughout Ukraine.

Daniel Skokan, Feed The Hungry’s Country Director based in the Czech Republic, recently shared the powerful impact supporters are having:

“Christians become angels to those people.”

During one distribution, Daniel explained that many supporters willingly give up meals themselves so families in Ukraine can eat.

The following day, a local pastor received a remarkable message from a woman who had attended the outreach:

“I knew Christianity was a nice religion, but I didn’t know it was real. When I heard that people were giving up meals so we could have a meal, I wanted to be part of that Kingdom.”

For many, practical generosity has become the clearest demonstration of the Gospel.

One of Feed The Hungry Australia’s ministry partners serves in Izmail, a city in south-western Ukraine near the Black Sea.

Although far from the eastern frontlines, Izmail continues to experience regular missile attacks.

Despite recently undergoing treatment for skin cancer, this pastor has remained committed to serving his community throughout the conflict.

Earlier this year, Feed The Hungry Australia committed to covering his food distribution and transport costs for the remainder of the year.

His response reflected both gratitude and the harsh reality of daily life:

“This is very powerful and truly encouraged me—that people thought of me, that they want to pray and learn more about my illness.”

He continued:

“Tonight, as I am writing this message to you, there was a very heavy attack. A hospital in our city was bombed, and now there is no electricity anywhere in the city. Nothing is working—no traffic lights, no power in homes—nothing at all. This is the reality we live in.”

Originally from Volnovakha in the Donetsk region, he and his family were forced to flee after becoming targets because of their ministry to people affected by the war. Acting on an urgent warning from a church member serving in the Ukrainian military, the women and children escaped while heavy fighting engulfed their city.

After months on the road, the congregation eventually settled in the Poltava region, where they were given the use of an old church building.

Despite losing his home and being displaced himself, this pastor now coordinates one of Feed The Hungry’s largest frontline food distribution operations.

Truckloads of food arrive before being sorted and loaded into 10 to 15 vans, which travel to communities near Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

The work is demanding and often dangerous.

During one operation, a church member was captured and imprisoned. After eventually being released, he faced intense pressure to remain in occupied territory and cooperate with Russian authorities before finally escaping into Western Europe.

These pastors and volunteers continue serving despite extraordinary hardship.

They are living examples of courageous faith—trusting God, caring for others, and continuing to share hope in the midst of conflict.

Feed The Hungry Australia is also preparing to support a new ministry initiative: summer youth camps for children affected by war.

Children living in conflict zones endure constant air raid sirens, drone attacks and ongoing uncertainty. Many have lost homes, family members and any sense of normal childhood.

Camp programs provide something many of these children have not experienced for years—a safe environment where they can laugh, build friendships, enjoy outdoor activities and encounter the hope of the Gospel.

One local pastor explains:

“Children need restoration. Children need healing. Children need hope that they can find only in God’s presence. In our camps, we create an atmosphere of safety, acceptance and love. In such an atmosphere, a child can relax and release different emotions. Very often there are many tears. We preach the Gospel to the children and young people. They come to know the Lord. What could be better?”

For many children, this week offers far more than a holiday—it provides healing, hope and an opportunity to encounter the love of Christ.