Winter in de-occupied territories amid an energy crisis and constant shelling is a true test of resilience. To help people get through the harshest cold season, the District #1 Charity Foundation launched a large-scale Winter Campaign 2025–2026. The funding and implementation of this project were based on equal partnership between GER3 and the charitable organization «New Dawn».

Our winter project consisted of two key components, designed to comprehensively address the issue of cold conditions.

Component 1: Provision of solid fuel

Independent firewood procurement for people in frontline areas has become physically impossible due to destroyed logistics routes and mined surrounding forests. At the same time, purchasing and delivering fuel from other regions remains financially inaccessible for most families.

Our team took full responsibility for the entire fuel supply cycle. We organized and delivered firewood to 440 of the most vulnerable households in more than ten villages of the community, providing warmth to 900 local residents. In total, families received 3,304 cubic meters of quality fuel—an average of 7.51 cubic meters per household.

We made a deliberate decision not to deliver firewood in bulk onto the roadside. Instead, each family received fuel in neat wooden crates, ensuring convenient and orderly storage. As a useful addition to every delivery, we included our branded matches with the Foundation’s hotline contacts.

This assistance lifted a significant financial burden from families, allowing them to allocate resources to medicine and food. More than 75% of surveyed residents noted the excellent quality of the firewood received.

Component 2: Investment in energy independence and home insulation

Effective winter preparation requires not only generating heat but also retaining it inside the home. In parallel with firewood distribution, we launched a “turnkey” home insulation program for private houses.

Due to shelling damage and structural wear, most private homes in the region suffered critical heat loss. At the same time, elderly people living alone, single mothers, and persons with disabilities were unable to independently find contractors, purchase expensive materials, or carry out complex high-altitude insulation works on roofs.

Project construction teams supported 190 homes, protecting 403 people from cold conditions. We installed 9,229 square meters of reliable thermal insulation, delivering immediate results.

81% of households immediately experienced a significant increase in indoor temperature (in some cases, thermometer readings rose by a record 10 degrees).

Every second family already this winter reported noticeable savings in firewood consumption due to reduced heat loss.

Our comprehensive approach to the winter campaign provided people with a long-term solution for energy independence.