Love Does Boutique

Purpose

Love Does Boutique was created to support pregnant women who have found themselves in the dramatic circumstances of the war in Ukraine. It is a place where they can receive essential products for themselves and their babies, while also feeling warmth, care, and a sense of normalcy. Our goal was to create a space where women do not feel like victims — they visit the boutique like a regular shop, but all products are completely free of charge.

Who is it for?

Every woman registering for our project meets one of three criteria:

• she has been displaced from occupied areas or areas affected by intense military operations,
• she is a war widow,
• her husband has been drafted into the army and is serving on the front line.

These are the women who, often left to cope on their own, most need material and emotional support.

Where?

Love Does Boutique operates in Lutsk (Ukraine), in the premises of the local maternity hospital. Each month, around 75 women come together there to use the boutique and take part in workshops, and to feel that they are not alone on their journey into motherhood.

Workshops

The mission of our work is not only to provide items, but also to build trust-based relationships. That is why, in addition to the boutique, we organize regular workshops and therapeutic sessions. For mothers, this is a moment of respite, learning, and being together.

Workshop topics include, among others:

• the physiology of breastfeeding and lactation support,
• first aid for newborns and responding in crisis situations (including during wartime),
• Pilates classes for pregnant women,
• babywearing workshops,
• art therapy and aromatherapy,
• sound therapy and breathing techniques,
• meetings focused on mental health, stress, and building inner strength.

Each of these workshops provides not only practical knowledge, but also an opportunity to express emotions, receive support, and feel a sense of community.

Boutique supplies

For the baby

• Clothing: bodysuits, sleepsuits, one-piece rompers, hats, socks, mittens.
• Hygiene: diapers, wet wipes, care creams, baby oils, washing gels, baby bathtubs, nail care sets.
• Toys: teething toys, plush toys, rattles.
• Accessories: bottles, pacifiers, bibs, blankets, muslin cloths.

For the mother

• Clothing: postpartum underwear, nursing bras, nightgowns, robes.
• Hygiene: maternity pads, breast pads, body care cosmetics.
• Other: nursing pillows, motherhood books, nipple care creams, baby carriers and wraps.

Why is it important?

The war has taken away these women’s safety, homes, and often their loved ones. Many of them experience pregnancy in loneliness, far from their families and husbands. Love Does Boutique gives them more than items — it gives them the feeling that they are seen, valued, and cared for. It is a place where they can, even for a moment, feel normal again, find community, and hear that they have not been left alone. This project proves that even in the hardest times, love always wins.