What happens when a local organization becomes the lifeline for hundreds living under constant shelling? Union of Help to Kherson, led by a resilient brother-sister duo, is delivering life-saving aid—power banks, first aid kits, and more—to families the world has forgotten. One kit even reconnected a granddaughter with her grandmother after two months of silence.
RPCV: Stephanie Somerman; Community Development; 2010-2012
Ukrainian Partner: Kateryna, Co-founder & Executive Director Union of Help to Kherson
Region: Kherson Oblast
Union of Help to Kherson is a community-based, registered Ukrainian NGO with a mission to deliver humanitarian aid to residents of the Kherson region and support future rebuilding efforts to restore life to this beloved land. Originally founded in 2014 as a hub for local entrepreneurs, the organization underwent a complete transformation after the Russian invasion in 2022.
Led by Katya and Mykhailo, a brother and sister duo, Union of Help to Kherson is a volunteer-driven initiative providing the basic necessities–food, medicine, books, power banks, evacuation support, and much more–to those in need since the Russian invasion in February 2022. In fact, the NGO has helped 12,570+ people since its inception.
Peremoha Mini-Grant Implementation & Impact
Thanks to a Peremoha Mini-Grant from the RPCV Alliance for Ukraine, the organization recently expanded its aid distribution to include two of the most urgently needed items in Kherson: portable power banks and first-aid kits. Blackouts caused by constant shelling have left many without a way to charge phones or access medical supplies. These items are rarely delivered by large humanitarian convoys, making local action all the more vital.
The mini-grant supported the purchase and delivery of 111 power banks and 114 first-aid kits to children, teenagers, and elderly residents in Kherson and surrounding villages. A portion of the funding also covered volunteer transportation to ensure supplies reached those most at risk—quickly and safely.
One Power Bank, One Phone Call, One Reconnection
One story illustrates the deep impact of this work. Liska hadn’t heard from her grandmother in the village of Kindiyka for over two months due to widespread power outages. A neighbor had confirmed her grandmother was alive but unable to reach a shelter with a generator to charge her phone.
When Liska messaged Union of Help to Kherson to ask if they could get an anti-blackout kit to her grandmother, the team immediately mobilized. They coordinated with a neighbor who could travel out of the village and passed along a kit—including a power bank and solar panel. Just eight hours later, Liska received a WhatsApp call from her grandmother—her first in weeks.
Looking Ahead
Union of Help to Kherson continues to deliver aid where it’s needed most—reaching those often overlooked by larger relief efforts. In total, the organization estimates that this Peremoha-funded initiative reached 250 to 300 families. As always, their work is shaped by the voices of the community and powered by an unshakable commitment to human dignity.
The Peremoha Mini-Grants program, launched in 2022, empowers Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) and their Ukrainian partners to lead impactful projects supporting humanitarian aid, community development, education, and youth initiatives. These grants are made possible through charitable contributions and proceeds from the Babusya’s Kitchen Cookbook.
You can help make a difference! Donate to the Peremoha fund, purchase a cookbook, or apply for your own grant to support Ukraine.