Samaritan’s Purse is supplying agricultural kits to vulnerable families in the war-torn nation.
Widows Natalia and Maria have renewed hope now.
In a country laid barren by war, the gift of garden tools and seeds from Samaritan’s Purse will help them grow new life and provide for their families. As believers in Jesus Christ, the two see this provision as a sign of God’s favor and encouragement even as their nation continues to be torn apart.
“The grain and tools for working the land are a real lifesaver for me,” said Natalia, 52, who daily works her 30-acre plot to supply food for her and her two adult children. “I couldn’t image how I would manage all of this on my own. But now, with the grain and all the necessary tools, it’s like a gift from God.”
Seeds and tools provided by Samaritan’s Purse are helping war-weary Ukrainians work their land for harvests that will reduce their dependence on external aid.
The new shovel, rake, hoe, pitchfork, and clippers saved Natalia from the expensive and difficult task of securing garden materials on her own. And the new seeds—to grow everything from potatoes and tomatoes to watermelon and carrots—give her hope for new crops and a better quality of life.
“It’s not just about the activity anymore,” Maria said. “It’s faith in tomorrow.”
Going It Alone
Natalia’s husband is no longer there to share the work. He’d always helped manage the household, cultivate the land, and keep their tools in good condition. But then the war erupted and he voluntarily reported to the frontlines. Almost two years have passed since she learned he wasn’t coming home.
“My husband died in the war in October 2023. It was hard to endure, and I still can’t believe he’s gone,” Natalia said. “He was always by my side, always supported me in everything. Now I’m on my own, and it’s not easy.”
Samaritan’s Purse delivers a bag of seeds to Natalia, who is just one of over 1,600 people to benefit from the project.
Natalia couldn’t simply pause the work in her grief. She has picked up the tasks that her husband used to handle.
“We have always been a strong family, supporting each other, even in the toughest times,” she said.
Growing Together from the Ground Up
Others in Natalia’s village are doing the same. The agricultural kits from Samaritan’s Purse, which also include a metal bucket, watering can, and a seeding kit with pots and various fertilizers, are an invitation to deepen roots and resolve.
Thanks to seeding kits provided by Samaritan’s Purse, the plants get their start inside when the temperatures are still too cold to plant outside in Ukraine.
“Without this help, we wouldn’t be able to manage here,” Natalia said. “It gives us not only material support but also moral support. I know that we are not alone, that someone is thinking about us and helping us. This is very important when you’re trying to hold on, even when it feels like everything around you is falling apart.”
From her garden’s yields, Natalia has grown enough to preserve and store vegetables, to share her abundance with family and to enjoy their company as they hold onto precious traditions together amid war.
Radishes are growing in Eastern Ukraine to provide war-weary residents variety in their diet.
She also gives some of her cucumbers and tomatoes away to the soldiers defending her country.
“I often send my preserves to the guys on the front,” Natalia said, describing how her work helps fighters far from home. “It’s not just food for them; it’s a part of our support, our hope. I want them to know that we’re thinking of them, that we’re with them, even from a distance. And I always ask the guys to return the jars so I can make new ones, and so that our connection doesn’t break.”
Gardening Helps Her Hang On
For Maria, 75, difficulties with weather claimed her entire harvest last year, leaving her with nothing. So, the corn, beet, cabbage, eggplant, and pea seeds she received from Samaritan’s Purse—along with the proper garden tools—make her eager to see a fruitful crop this year.
“This help, seeds and tools, is very important for us. With them, I hope I can grow more produce. I’m not alone in this world. The help from Samaritan’s Purse gives us strength to keep going and not give up. It’s so important when everyone around is fighting for their lives and continuing to support each other,” Maria said.
Maria’s husband died before the full-scale invasion broke out in Ukraine. Her daughter lives in Poland, and though they are in constant contact, Maria still feels the absence of loved ones.
“My son recently died in the war. It’s a huge loss. I am left all alone, and that’s the hardest part. Fortunately, my house is intact, and working in my garden has given me peace.”
Maria (right) and her neighbors are grateful for the gardening resources they received from Samaritan’s Purse.
Maria’s neighbors have become a support as she continues with the responsibilities of life. They help with household chores and work together to help her keep things afloat. This close community reminds Maria to keep going. She still has a beautiful family she hopes to see again one day.
“My daughter always tells me not to give up working in the garden, to keep doing it even when it’s hard. She strongly recommends not leaving this activity as she knows it gives me strength,” Maria said.
With careful tending and favorable weather, these rows of seed potatoes will grow into a staple crop to nourish Ukrainians in the days ahead.
Samaritan’s Purse Project Manager Daryna Mihdal explains why the agricultural kits are so important to people like Maria and Natalia.
“Providing seeds and tools during this difficult time empowers people to work their land, giving them a sense of control, dignity, and hope. Additionally, growing their own crops also ensures year-round access to food, which reduces people’s dependence on external aid.”
Grounded and Growing in Faith
Maria continues to stand firm with the help of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
“I keep going because I know life continues. With God in my heart, I can endure anything. Faith helps me not to give up,” she said. “Thanks to people like Samaritan’s Purse, we will definitely get through this. Your support is invaluable, and it will surely have an impact on my life and the life of my community.”
Samaritan’s Purse distributed over 600 agricultural kits in March and April 2025, and plants like these are already thriving.
God’s provision and presence have likewise strengthened Natalia to hold fast as her homeland seems in pieces.
“God is always with me,” she said. “My faith gives me peace and hope, even when things are tough. We will hold on. We have to do this—for ourselves, for our family, for our country. And I know God will be with us, even when it seems like everything is very difficult. Faith and support are what help us move forward.”
In March and April of this year, Samaritan’s Purse distributed over 600 agricultural kits that benefited 1,620 people in Eastern Ukraine. Please pray that God would grant these families a bountiful harvest to help ease their burden of suffering.
