Thanks to HART’s Community
Backpacks of Hope are being delivered
For many children, a backpack isn’t for school—it’s for survival. When air-raid sirens sound, children are taught to grab an emergency backpack and run—sometimes in the middle of the night—to bomb shelters.
Earlier this year, we set a goal of providing 1,000 Emergency Backpacks to children across Ukraine. Thanks to the generosity of our HART Community in Canada and the United States, that goal has been reached!
Throughout the summer, our church partners have been distributing these backpacks to children who need them most.
A Reminder That They Are Not Forgotten
For 8-year-old Artem, the final day of summer camp was already special. He had spent several days at the “Kingdom of a Pure Heart” Christian children’s camp surrounded by other children who, like him, are growing up under the shadow of war.
But on August 15, 2026, Artem and 129 other children received a surprise they were not expecting. Each child was given an Emergency Backpack filled with practical items chosen specifically for the realities Ukrainian children face today.
Artem could hardly contain his excitement.
“There’s a flashlight, a power bank, a thermos, a blanket, and treats! And also a cool anti-stress toy and a coloring book with pencils! I don’t even know what the best part is. I’ve never had a gift like this before. I am so, so happy!”
Behind Every Backpack Is a Story
The children who received these backpacks ranged in age from six to seventeen. Some have lost fathers in the war. Some were internally displaced persons (refugees). Some have fathers serving on the front lines.
Others are waiting for fathers who are prisoners of war or missing in action.
Others come from large families or homes facing overwhelming financial hardship.
“When a child rejoices over a flashlight or a power bank as if it were the greatest miracle, you realize just how timely and necessary this support really is” — from parents’ feedback during the distribution.
Tetiana, a single mom of two children, working 2 part-time jobs, said:
“The most valuable treasure in this backpack was the power bank. If shelling starts and I am at work, I will still be able to communicate with my children. What a relief. Thank you!”
You Gave More Than a Backpack—You Gave Hope
Each of the 130 Emergency Backpacks contained practical items for safety, warmth, comfort, and learning. But what the children received that day was more than the contents of a backpack.
They received a message: You are loved. You are not alone.
The distribution was filled with laughter, hugs, excitement—and more than a few tears of gratitude.
For a few wonderful moments, children whose lives have been shaped by war were simply children again—opening gifts, comparing what was inside, smiling, laughing, and dreaming about the school year ahead.
Parents expressed deep gratitude for these backpacks. Over recent months, many of them have struggled to provide their children with even basic necessities, so the realization that there are kind people on the other side of the world who care about their kids gives them the strength to keep going.
You Helped Create This Moment
To everyone in Canada and the United States who supported this project prayerfully and financially: you are part of days like this.
Your generosity traveled thousands of kilometers and arrived in the hands of a child like Artem. You helped relieve some of the burden carried by a worried mother. You gave a displaced child something of their very own.
You helped a child whose father is fighting, missing, or imprisoned understand that people far away care about what happens to them.
And through the local Christian church and HART’s ministry partners, your kindness became something even greater—a tangible expression of the love of Christ.
One backpack cannot end a war. But it can bring comfort in the middle of one. It can remind a frightened young heart that God has not forgotten them.
Thank you for helping us place hope into the hands of 1,000 Ukrainian children. Because you cared, their load became a little lighter, their future a little brighter, and God’s love was made visible.
Thank you for standing with Ukraine!
With heartfelt gratitude,
Lloyd Cenaiko
President & Founder
Quotes & Videos from HART Camps
Artur: My days at camp always started with a smile. Even in the morning, I felt happy to be in a place where people laughed a lot and enjoyed life, despite the war and the air-raid sirens. The food was also delicious. I wish the camp was much longer.
Masha: I would like to thank you for the camp. I loved it a lot. And I will never forget all that I have learned here about God.
Kira: They helped us learn new English words and told us about a God who loves us. We sang, played, and danced a lot. We had so much fun that I even forgot about the war and all the anxiety.
Mariia: The camp was incredibly interesting and fun! We really loved sitting together with friends, playing games, meeting new kids, and singing. The camp was awesome, and I would love to come back again.
Sasha: Thank you very much. I really dreamed of going to camp, and my dream has come true!
Anna, 16 years old: This year, I was at the camp not as a camper, but as a staff member. I actually came to the church through camps like this two years ago. Back then, I was completely broken and depressed because my dad had been a prisoner of war for a few years, and we didn’t even know if he was alive.
When I first came to the camp, it felt like landing on another planet: kind and caring people wrapped me in a circle of love and support. It drastically changed my life! We started praying for my dad, and a miracle happened — he came back from captivity through a prisoner exchange! I decided to dedicate my life completely to Jesus and was recently baptized.
Videos – 2026 SUMMER CAMPS
One week at camp. A lifetime of impact.
Because of your prayers and generosity, thousands of children across Ukraine are experiencing something every child deserves—a place to laugh, sing, play, belong, and hear about God’s love.
These are more than camp memories. They are stories of hope that will last a lifetime. Thank you for helping write them.
Education Scholarship Fund stories
What Happens When Someone Says, ‘Your Future Matters’
For years, Liudmyla learned not to depend on anyone. Then strangers thousands of kilometres away chose to invest in her future—and something began to change.
He’s only 15, but he wants to build a future for his family
For Anton, an education means much more than a diploma. It means the chance to earn a living, care for his mother and younger brother, and build a future very different from the circumstances he grew up in.
Greatest Need
Every HART program matters. Every project changes lives. But at certain times of the year, one need becomes especially urgent. In September, that need is our Education Scholarship Fund.
Students across Ukraine have sent in their application forms for a HART Education Scholarship. Currently, our annual budget allows us to award grants to 100+ students. By contributing to this Fund, YOU can be part of the answer to one young person’s prayer—and help God write a new chapter in their story.
Pastor Conference in September
Caring for Those Who Care for Everyone Else
During this war, pastors and their wives have become a lifeline for thousands of people across Ukraine.
They counsel grieving families. They comfort widows. They support displaced families, wounded soldiers, traumatized children, and congregations living under constant uncertainty. They organize humanitarian aid, respond to emergencies, preach hope, and remain present when others have nowhere else to turn.
But who cares for the pastors? Who gives them a place to rest, grieve, pray, and recover from the enormous burden they carry?
This is where YOU come into the picture. You are helping HART plan and orchestrate a four-day conference for Ukrainian pastors and their wives.
For a few precious days, they can step away from the phone calls, urgent needs, air-raid alerts, and emotional demands of wartime ministry. They can sleep, worship, laugh, walk together, and spend time with other ministry couples who understand exactly what they are going through.
One pastor described the experience this way:
“I did not realize how exhausted I had become until I finally stopped. For three days, I did not have to solve anyone’s problems. I could simply rest, pray, and allow God to care for my own heart.”
A pastor’s wife shared:
“At this retreat, we finally had time to sit together, walk together, and remember how much we enjoy simply being husband and wife.”
These conferences do not remove the challenges waiting for them at home. The war continues. Families are still grieving. Churches are still serving communities under unimaginable pressure. But pastors and their wives return strengthened.
Please pray for our upcoming Trauma Healing Conference and Retreat, September 21–24, and for the pastors and their wives attending. May these days bring much-needed rest, healing, encouragement, and spiritual renewal.
Just below… you’ll find a specific prayer list for pastors and their families. Thank you for standing with them in prayer.
Pray Together with Your Church, Family, and Friends for:
- A just and lasting peace — that light would overcome darkness.
- Defenders, veterans, prisoners, and their families — for strength, protection, and hope.
- Christians and non-believers in occupied territories — for endurance under persecution.
- The safe return of kidnapped children & healing for broken families.
- Comfort for the grieving & restoration for the wounded.
- Protection of cities, villages, and civilians from relentless attacks.
- Global perseverance in standing with Ukraine during this long struggle.
- Wisdom and courage for world leaders as they confront tyranny.
