From groceries to hope: How project from Transcarpathia is transforming lives and building a culture of care

What is the problem?

A lonely elderly man confined to his home by illness. A mother of many children struggling without support and feeling increasingly abandoned. A family grieving the loss of a son in the war, now barely scraping by. These are not isolated cases but a harsh reality for many Ukrainians facing hardship, unable to afford essentials like firewood, medicine, or groceries.

What is the solution?

The Sunday Tashka project, initiated by the non-governmental organization Barrier-Free Transcarpathia, aims to address this issue. The initiative engages compassionate individuals in a charitable "relay," where each week, new participants take turns helping vulnerable families and individuals living alone by providing food and other essential items as needed.

How does it work?

In Transcarpathia, the word "tashka" means a bag, and the goal of the Sunday Tashka project is to support people in need by providing them with a bag of groceries. The project's founder, Ruslan Protsenko, who also leads Barrier-Free Transcarpathia, says the idea arose after visiting one of the NGO's beneficiaries, Ms. Viktoria, from Mukachevo.

"On the way home, I thought about how to involve more people in providing such support, and that's how the concept of a charity marathon was born. My wife, who often visits Ms. Viktoria with me, supported the idea, and soon we began organizational preparations," explains Protsenko.

The project began with a careful selection process to identify those in need. All recipients meet specific criteria—they are residents of the Zakarpattia region experiencing economic difficulties, even if temporary. To build a database and gather information about those requiring assistance, the project team reached out to city, town, and village councils, as well as local volunteer organizations and other partners of Barrier-Free Transcarpathia.

A mandatory requirement for participation in the project was the recipient's consent to being video-recorded during the aid transfer. The project ensures that personal data is not shared without permission, publicly disclosing only the recipient's name and locality.

The Sunday Tashka project operates like a relay race: each week, a participant (philanthropist) prepares a food package and delivers it to their designated recipient, following the provided instructions. The delivery is documented with a short video, which is then shared on social media using the hashtag #недільнаташка (SundayTashka) 

Afterward, the participant passes the baton by selecting the next two participants—typically friends or acquaintances they have coordinated with in advance—or by receiving names of willing participants from the project team.

A key requirement of the project is adhering to a predefined list of food items to ensure the assistance is practical and beneficial. The packages typically include essentials such as cereals, pasta, eggs, canned goods, oil, cookies, bakery products, and other long-lasting items. Participants may expand the recommended list if they wish or inquire with the recipient about specific additional needs.

The recipients of the Sunday Tashka project are individuals facing challenging life circumstances: lonely elderly people, families of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and military personnel, individuals with disabilities, those who are ill, and low-income citizens. Among the benefactors are well-known bloggers, businesspeople, politicians, and ordinary residents from cities and villages—all united by this initiative to foster and promote a culture of helping others.

"At the very beginning, I passed the challenge to four people, and to make it more engaging and effective, we deliberately selected individuals from completely different fields," explains Protsenko. "I passed the baton to a blogger, a government official, an athlete, and a journalist. The idea was for the challenge to spread in many directions simultaneously. And, in principle, that's exactly what happened."

Does it really work?

The founder of the initiative highlights the significant role of participating bloggers in promoting the project, especially among young people. Through their videos and stories shared on social media, many individuals learn about Sunday Tashka and are inspired to join the charitable effort themselves.

One of the first participants in the Sunday Tashka project was Transcarpathian blogger Karina Yaniuk. Currently living abroad, she couldn't personally deliver the tashka, so another participant and project ambassador, Oleksandra Hilka, stepped in. She handed over the tashka to Dmytro Diachenko, a young man who tragically lost his leg following a stroke. While he was undergoing initial treatment, his father, a military serviceman, passed away, followed shortly by his mother. In a short time, Diachenko was left entirely alone.

During the tashka handover, Diachenko shared his dream of obtaining a prosthetic limb with a "Japanese knee," costing over $19,000, which would allow him to walk freely and return to work. Deeply moved by his story, Yaniuk initiated a fundraiser among her followers. To date, almost $5,000 have been raised toward Diachenko's prosthesis.

Protsenko adds that project volunteers often identify additional needs of the families they assist and work to address them. For example, after delivering a package to one family, it was discovered that they were unable to clean their home properly after roof repairs due to visual impairments. The organization arranged for a cleaning company to help the family free of charge. The initiative was documented on video to express gratitude to the company for its support.

Dmytro Safargaleyev, a member of the Barrier-Free Transcarpathia, was next to deliver a tashka to Mr. Ernest from Mukachevo. However, upon seeing the man's living conditions, he was shocked—his room was furnished with old, worn-out furniture, and the walls and floor were in terrible condition. Mr. Ernest also lacked firewood to endure the winter. The issue was quickly resolved when the team found a company willing to provide firewood.

"If you want to change life for the better, then change it significantly. We all see the conditions in which vulnerable segments of the population sometimes live," says the volunteer.

Other volunteers extend their support beyond food aid. For instance, blogger Volodymyr Honcharuk visited a large family, where the children shared that their mother dreamed of owning a microwave oven. Moved by their story, the blogger purchased a microwave and gifted it to them that same day.

"It's heartwarming that our Sunday Tashka has grown beyond just a challenge—it has become a gesture of care, a way to show kindness and support to those going through tough times. It would be wonderful if people contributed not only with food but also with their skills or other free services," says Protsenko.

The initiative's founder notes that the database of those in need continues to grow. However, the NGO remains optimistic, as many people are eager to become benefactors. Even if there aren't enough new participants, those who have already taken part in the Sunday Tashka are willing to step in and help again.

Even more useful solutions!

The Sunday Tashka project currently supports around 500 families with the help of over 250 volunteers. The organizers intend to continue and expand the initiative, adapting the format of aid delivery as needed. For instance, from December 5 to January 12, the Sunday Tashka will transform into the Holiday Tashka. During this period, participants will focus on visiting families with children in difficult life circumstances. The organizers also aim to involve more businesses and organizations in the circle of benefactors to further grow the project's reach.

Even the Makivka group from kindergarten No. 10 in the Mukachevo community joined the project. The children visited two elderly women, Mrs. Inna and Mrs. Tamara, bringing them various treats. The kids then passed the challenge on to the director of their institution and their friends from another kindergarten. Meanwhile, the head of the Polianska community, Ivan Drohobetsky, participated by presenting food packages and sweets to 32 residents of the Polianska community who were 90 years old or older.

The project is gradually expanding beyond Transcarpathia, with the organizers open to collaboration. A philanthropist from the Chernihiv region has already joined the initiative, and a NGO from Ternopil recently approached Barrier-free Transcarpathia with a proposal to implement the Sunday Tashka in the region. There are also plans to involve Ukrainians living in the Czech Republic and Poland. The project initiators are prepared to provide detailed instructions and action algorithms to facilitate the launch of similar initiatives in other regions and even outside Ukraine.

Currently, Barrier-free Transcarpathia is preparing for a new charitable initiative set to begin after the New Year. This project will involve a series of interviews with homeless individuals, asking if they are ready to change their lives. For those who are willing, the project team will offer support through the Barrier-Free Salon (previously covered by Rubryka) and the Sunday Tashka, providing the necessary resources for a fresh start. This initiative will go beyond material aid, offering psychological support to ensure these individuals feel valued and cared for.