€212,000 of Kindness in Just Six Months: The HU GrU Story of Compassion in Action

"In a time when we so often hear stories of division, injustice, and hardship, there is also a different story to tell. A story of people who chose not to stand by while others were suffering," says Ana Gruica Uglešić, founder of the association based in Dugopolje, which carries out humanitarian initiatives across Croatia.

Roofs Over Their Heads, Security for Families

Guided by its motto, "What Matters Most Is That Children Are Well," the association has achieved remarkable results in just six months since its establishment. During that time, it helped build a home that gave a family with children safety and stability, renovated several homes, purchased washing machines and dryers, repainted living spaces, and provided the basic conditions for a dignified life.

Mobility and Health Come First

The association financed the purchase of four vehicles for families facing the daily challenge of caring for seriously ill children. It also funded two vehicles for the County Association of the Blind, improving mobility and independence for its members.

HU GrU covered the full rehabilitation costs for a father of four recovering from a serious road accident, while a young girl living with a rare genetic condition received a communication device that allows her to connect more easily with the world around her.

Help That Often Goes Unnoticed

The association also provided support for needs that often go unseen but have a profound impact on everyday life. Children received computers for school, prescription glasses, orthodontic treatment, clothing, and footwear. Families were supported through speech therapy, rent payments, utility bills, car registration costs, outstanding grocery bills, and many other everyday expenses that can become overwhelming during difficult times.

High school graduates who could not otherwise afford this important milestone were given the opportunity to celebrate their graduation alongside their classmates. Food was donated to families in need, diapers were delivered to residents of a women's shelter in Split, and the debts and blocked bank accounts of around a dozen single mothers were successfully resolved.

"Sometimes, all people need is for that overwhelming burden of debt to be lifted from their shoulders, so that mothers raising children on their own can finally breathe and move forward," says Ana.

The "Angels" Behind HU GrU

Ana Gruica Uglešić often says that none of this would be possible without the association's "Angels" not large corporations or wealthy benefactors, but ordinary people with extraordinary generosity. Mothers, fathers, retirees, students, tradespeople, and entrepreneurs who donate five, ten, or twenty euros, encourage others to do the same, and help spread the message.

Public figures who have recognised the importance of the association's mission also play a valuable role. By lending their voices and sharing these stories, they help humanitarian initiatives reach people who may otherwise never have heard about them.

Just the Beginning

"Every euro donated to HU GrU represents someone's belief that kindness still exists. It reminds us that humanity has not disappeared, and that there are still people willing to stop, listen, and help," concludes Ana Gruica Uglešić.

According to the founder, this is only the beginning. The association remains committed to expanding its humanitarian work, reaching more families in need, and proving that even the smallest act of kindness can change someone's life.