Why Winter Is the Hardest Season for Vulnerable Families—and How You Can Help

Here is a statistic that should really shake us: nearly 67% of food-insecure families are forced to choose between eating and paying utility bills. Subhan’Allah, think about that for a second. Two-thirds. This isn’t some distant, abstract problem—it’s a choice no family should have to make, yet it’s become the daily reality for hundreds of millions of people. And as temperatures drop and heating bills skyrocket, that choice becomes even more difficult.  

But you know what should shake us even more? Understanding what parents actually have to do to protect their children. They go without dinner. They skip meals so their kids can eat. They freeze so their children can have one more torn blanket. They sacrifice their own warmth, their own meals, their own health—anything to give their children a fighting chance to survive. And even these sacrifices are not enough when winter tightens its grip. 

The Prophet Muhammadﷺ taught us: "The believer's shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity." [Tirmidhi].

When we witness families being forced into making impossible choices like this, our response cannot be passive sympathy. It must be active mercy. 

But it's not just about being cold. That's the thing—winter brings knock-on effects that make the suffering unbearable. It poses severe health risks, especially for vulnerable families, and particularly for young children, elderly people, and those with pre-existing medical conditions.  

People experiencing homelessness face chronic medical concerns, a higher risk of hypothermia, and a higher mortality rate during extreme weather conditions. For families in inadequate housing—whether that’s refugee camps, makeshift shelters, or poorly insulated homes—the cold isn't just uncomfortable: it's deadly and dangerous. 

Respiratory illnesses spike during the winter months. Pneumonia, bronchitis, flu— they all hit harder and spread faster in cold conditions, especially when families have to huddle together in cramped spaces just to keep warm. People with heart conditions and respiratory disorders are highly susceptible to worsening issues throughout the winter months. And when families can't afford heating, these conditions become fatal. 

And then there's this cruel dimension to this crisis that most of us don’t even think about: some people stop taking prescribed medication just to try and pay the bills and feed their families. This isn't hypothetical. This is happening right now, in our Ummah, across the entire world. 

Allahﷻ reminds us in the Qur’an: "Whoever saves one life, it is as if they have saved all of humanity." [5:32].

When we provide winter relief to vulnerable families, we're not just offering comfort. We're doing everything we can to save as many lives as possible. 

For the 120+ million refugees and forcibly displaced people worldwide, winter represents a level of suffering that most of us will never understand. We complain when the heating takes a few minutes to kick in. They're facing sub-zero temperatures in flimsy tents. In structures that were never meant to withstand winter. In bombed-out buildings with no walls.  

Children living in homes damaged by war face exposure to health complications like hypothermia and pneumonia. Families go without power for up to 20 hours a day—and that’s those blessed enough. Many have no power at all. All this while temperatures drop to -20 degrees Celsius. 

Let your hearts travel for a moment to Gaza, where almost every building is damaged or destroyed completely. Medical and sanitation systems have collapsed. Families aren't just cold—they're living in the rubble of what they once called home, with no walls to block the wind, no roof to keep out the rain and snow, and no heating to provide even the slightest bit of warmth. 

The story is devastatingly similar in Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen, to name a few. Families who have already lost everything to war and conflict now face an enemy in the cold. Their children sleep on frozen ground. Their elderly family members suffer through long nights without so much as blankets. 

Our Ummah is facing winter unprepared, lacking even the most basic winter necessities. They’re our brothers and sisters in faith, members of our Ummah, people with names and stories and children who deserve better than to freeze to death. 

What makes winter so devastating for vulnerable families is how it magnifies existing poverty. It’s not just one thing—it’s everything all at once. Every aspect of winter creates additional strain that pushes families deeper into crisis. 

For people working seasonal jobs—landscaping, farming—their work dries up exactly when expenses increase. Parents who could barely make ends meet during warmer months now have no income and higher bills in the colder months, when things become even tougher to manage. 

Then the unexpected expenses pile up, and each one creates a domino effect, forcing families to make more impossible choices, fall further behind on bills, and slip further into poverty. It’s a vicious, perpetual cycle that can trap families for generations. 

The Prophetﷺ said: "He is not a believer who fills his stomach while his neighbour goes hungry." [Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 112].

How can we sit by and watch as millions of families barely survive the brutal winter nights whilst we’re warm and safe? Our comfort carries with it a responsibility, a duty of care for our brothers and sisters, and we mustn’t turn a blind eye. Allahﷻ will ask us on the Day of Judgement what we did to help those in need. Our answers in the Akhirah will depend on our actions in this Dunya. 

If there is one image that should break our hearts and spur us to action, it is that of a child shivering in the cold.

Over 100 million children worldwide experience homelessness or live in inadequate housing. This includes children living on the streets, in refugee camps or informal settlements, in overcrowded or unsafe housing, or those without consistent access to shelter due to migration or family instability.  

They are real children who don’t deserve this—children who should be playing, learning, and growing, not fighting to survive the cold. A child's small body loses heat faster. Their developing immune systems are no match for the harsh conditions. When families lack adequate heating, children suffer first and the most. 

But the damage isn't only physical. Around 250 million children and youth worldwide are out of school and lack access to formal education. For those children who still have access to educational opportunities, battling winter makes it almost impossible to concentrate. How can a child focus on their studies when they are freezing? How can they build a future when they are trapped in a present of such profound hardship? Their education suffers. Their development is stunted. The trauma of experiencing extreme poverty during childhood leaves lasting psychological scars. Winter doesn't just threaten their present—it jeopardises their entire future. 

The example of Rasool’Allahﷺ demands that we become the protectors of every child in our Ummah. Heﷺ was never more gentle than he was with children. When we provide winter relief, we're not just warming bodies—we're protecting futures, preserving potential, and fulfilling our duty to the next generation of our Ummah. These children could go on to be teachers, doctors, or even Imams. Without our intervention, we’re robbing the world of futures that could make a tangible difference. 

Reading about the scale of our Ummah’s suffering can feel overwhelming. The need is massive, and growing faster than ever before. Just 20 countries—home to only 11% of the global population—account for a staggering 82% of all humanitarian needs worldwide.  

But our Deen teaches us that we are not responsible for the entire Ummah, but we will be accountable for our own actions. And no act of charity is too small when given with a sincere heart. You don't need massive amounts of wealth to make an impact. You need willingness.  

Here's how you can help vulnerable families survive the devastation of winter: 

• Support Winter Relief Organisations: Established and trusted charities like One Ummah work specifically on winter campaigns and have the infrastructure to deliver life-saving winter aid effectively where the need is greatest. Your donation—whether £10, £50, or £500—combines with others to provide blankets, heating, warm clothing, and food to families who would otherwise go without. 
• Think Beyond Money: While many of us donate used clothes, the truth is, it's not enough. Financial contributions allow organisations to purchase exactly what's needed and deliver it to those in greatest need. That said, if you do have quality winter items in good condition, local homeless shelters and refugee support services often accept donations directly. 
• Make it Consistent: Rather than one-time donations, consider setting up small monthly contributions throughout winter, and even the rest of the year. Winter may only be here for two or three months, but the devastating effects on people’s lives can last for years. Consistent support allows us to reach more families and creates a sustainable, reliable lifeline. 
• Spread Awareness: Share information about winter hardship with your family, friends, and communities. In a world where social media does more harm than good, take this opportunity to use it thoughtfully to educate others. Organise fundraising events at your local Masjid or community centre. The more people understand the severity of the crisis, the more families that will receive help. 
• Check on Vulnerable Neighbours: Winter hardship isn't only distant—it exists in our own communities. Elderly neighbours, single-parent households, families with disabled members—these are people who might be struggling silently. A simple check-in, an offer to help with winter preparations, or assistance with heating costs can make an enormous difference. 

The Messenger of Allahﷺ said: "Whoever relieves a Muslim of some worldly distress, Allah will relieve him of some of the distress of the Day of Resurrecton..." [Sunan Ibn Majah 225]. 

Islam does not allow us the luxury of indifference. Winter hardship for vulnerable families isn't someone else's problem—it's ours. A test of our own faith, our own character, our own commitment to Islamic values. 

Allahﷻ says in the Qur’an: "And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, [saying], 'We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude.'" [Qur’an 76:8-9]. 

This verse describes the righteous as those who give even when they themselves love what they're giving—even when it requires sacrifice. We're not called to give only from our excess. We're called to give in a way that demonstrates our love for Allahﷻ supersedes our love for comfort and wealth. 

Sulaym ibn Aamir narrates that when winter would come, Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه would be extra mindful and would write to the Companions رضي الله عنهم advising: "Winter, which is an enemy, has come, so prepare for it with wool, leathers socks, and socks. Use wool as your under-clothing and outer-clothing, because the cold is an enemy that enters quickly but leaves slowly."  

If we must arm ourselves against winter's cold, how much more must we arm our brothers and sisters who face it without resources? 

Winter does not wait. Winter does not discriminate. Every day that passes without action is another day of suffering for vulnerable families. You have the power to change that reality for someone. Your donation—no matter the amount—can provide warmth, food, safety, and most importantly, hope.  

The Prophetﷺ said: "Protect yourself from the Fire even with half a date in charity. If you cannot find that, then with a kind word." [Bukhari 1417, Muslim 1016].

No contribution is too small when given with sincere intention. Allahﷻ sees our efforts, multiplies our rewards, and ensures our charity reaches those who need it most. 

This winter, as you enjoy the warmth of your home, spare some thoughts for those who have no such comfort. As you prepare hot meals for your family, think of those choosing between food and warmth. As you tuck your children into warm beds, consider the parents unable to provide that basic security. 

Then act. Donate generously. Give consistently. Spread awareness. Make Du’a for vulnerable families around the world. 

"The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills." [Qur’an 2:261].  

Winter is more than a season—it’s a test of our Ummah’s humanity, and our Iman. Vulnerable families all over the world are counting on your compassion and generosity. Your donation to One Ummah’s winter relief efforts can ensure those exact families don’t have to face the brutal cold alone, giving them a fighting chance to survive.  
 
Visit One Ummah’s Winter Appeal page, donate now and save lives. Stand with us, ‘United Against Winter’. 
 
جَزَاكَ ٱللَّٰهُ خَيْرًا