Shoeboxes, Eastern Europe
Delivering Hope in Ukraine: A Winter Journey with Teams4U
Feb
Shoebox Deliveries to Ukraine 2026: A Journey of Hope
This winter, Simon Cooke, Teams4U’s Shoebox Project Manager, travelled to Ukraine to help deliver thousands of shoebox gifts to children displaced by the ongoing conflict. The journey reached deep into eastern and central Ukraine, meeting families whose resilience continues to inspire us.
Travelling by road into Ukraine, Simon continued onward to Lviv for an overnight stop before being collected by Vova the following morning. Together they began the long drive east toward Zaporizhzhia, navigating icy roads and winter conditions where accidents, sadly, are a common sight.
Partnering With ‘I Am Mariupol’
Teams4U partners with the dedicated staff and volunteers at ‘I Am Mariupol’, an organisation providing support exclusively to people displaced from the destroyed city of Mariupol. Their centres offer vital practical, psychological and community support for families rebuilding their lives.
Shoebox Distributions
During this trip, Simon took part in three major distributions, bringing joy and warmth to children who have experienced immense loss.
1. ‘I Am Mariupol’ Centre – Zaporizhzhia
The first distribution took place at an ‘I Am Mariupol’ centre in Zaporizhzhia. The children—many having fled Mariupol with almost nothing—were full of excitement as the colourful shoeboxes were brought into the room.
They opened their boxes immediately, carefully examining each item. One little boy was delighted simply to receive toothpaste, holding it up proudly. Every letter and card from UK children was translated so each child knew who had sent their gift. This personal connection is always one of the most meaningful parts of the project.
“It’s a huge privilege to hand these shoeboxes to children from Mariupol here in Zaporizhzhia. I love being able to tell them: ‘These were packed with love by kids in the UK who are thinking of you.’”
Simon Cooke
2. Overnight Church Stay – Zaporizhzhia (about 7 miles from the frontline)
The second distribution was held in a church where Simon stayed the night. Though located around seven miles from the frontline, the church provided a warm and welcoming environment.
Because large public gatherings are unsafe in the region, the children did not open their boxes on site. Instead, each child collected a shoebox and hurried home with it—faces full of anticipation about what might be inside.
3. ‘I Am Mariupol’ Centre – Dnipro
The final distribution took place in Dnipro at another ‘I Am Mariupol’ centre. Here again, children opened their gifts on the spot, inspecting each item with delight and sharing their treasures with friends.
Simon was joined by a Ukrainian army chaplain, who played the saxophone and brought laughter to the group, while Simon performed a small magic show and explained how children in the UK had lovingly packed each shoebox.
Kremenchuk: Delivering the Remaining Shoeboxes
The final leg of the journey took Simon to Kremenchuk, where the remaining shoeboxes were delivered to Lisa, who assisted Teams4U as a translator during the trip. These boxes were later distributed to local families in the community.
The Journey Across Ukraine
Simon and the local team travelled hundreds of miles in a Sprinter van towing a trailer, navigating winter roads and enduring sub-zero temperatures. Despite the challenges, the mission remained the same: to deliver hope, comfort, and connection to the children who need it most.
Support Our Ongoing Work in Ukraine
Teams4U is committed to supporting Ukrainian families throughout 2026. We have already agreed to send Easter eggs again this year, as in previous years, to bring joy to children living amidst conflict.
Your donation keeps this work going. Thank you for standing with the people of Ukraine.