“They didn’t just provide supplies; they gave us hope and a sense of safety.”

How your support helps families navigate harsh winters in crisis

Friend, this winter, children in crisis will be living through dire conditions no one should ever have to face. Heavy rains are already pelting flimsy shelters, raising children’s risk of hypothermia. Tents flooded with rain and sewage water are exposing them to disease outbreaks. Freezing temperatures are destroying crops, leaving many with little to no food. Save the Children frequently works in cold-weather regions. We know that withstanding a freezing, dark winter can be painful for a child – even deadly. That’s why our work is so vital. With help from our supporters, our teams are delivering lifesaving aid to help families and children stay warm this winter.   In South America, 2-year-old Marian lives with her mother and four siblings in the high-altitude region of Potosí, Bolivia. Last winter, Marian’s mother, Silvia, struggled to feed her family as freezing temperatures and a dry spell ruined her crops. Save the Children helped Silvia set up a knitting business so she could earn enough money to feed her children without being so reliant on the harvest. She’s now able to buy wool to make knitwear that not only supports her livelihood, but helps keep her children warm during the winter.   Lamia* and her husband, along with her children and grandchildren, have been displaced three times since the war began in Gaza. They now live in a tent in Deir al-Balah. The suffering they face – especially during the chilly winter months – is beyond words. It means struggling to keep warm, food and water shortages and the constant worry of slipping deeper into crisis. Last winter, Save the Children provided Lamia’s family with tarps, mats, pillows and comfy mattresses. We also delivered boxes of winter clothes and cozy blankets, offering the children much-needed relief from the harsh weather. “Save the Children’s support was a turning point,” Lamia says. “Their tarps and materials shielded us from flooding and pests, and their blankets kept us warm in winter. They didn’t just provide supplies; they gave us hope and a sense of safety.” Learn more about how cold winters impact children in crisis and see how your support helps Save the Children respond.   In her short life, 2-year-old Polina* has only ever known war. Her mother, Valentyna,* gave birth to her in February 2022, a month before full-scale war broke out in Ukraine – where temperatures can plummet below zero.  Save the Children provided Valentyna and her family with a winter kit including wall insulation, window sealant, a heater, bedsheets, pillows, blankets, flashlights and thermoses to help combat the frigid temperatures. This winter kit made their living space more comfortable – but Valentyna still worried that if a missile hit their home, her kids would freeze while waiting for emergency services.  For Valentyna, protecting her children’s lives is her most important priority. Although she loves her community and home in the Donetsk region, she made the difficult decision to leave Ukraine to keep them safe. As you gather with family and friends this holiday season, we hope you’ll keep children in your minds and hearts – especially those who’ve just endured or are now bracing for a bitter winter. Save the Children will continue to keep kids safe in over 113 countries – every day and in times of crisis. Learn more about our work together. Thank you, Save the Children   Privacy Policy | Contact | Unsubscribe   © 2025 Save the Children Federation, Inc. 501 Kings Highway East, Suite 400 Fairfield, CT 06825 1-800-728-3843 Photo: Sacha Myers / Adriana Loureiro Fernandez / Save The Children *Names changed for protection