Ukraine - How people are helping

[Borg]

We've all heard stories about various efforts that have been happening to help the Ukrainian people that have been truly inspiring. My wife and I have been looking into ways to help but researching charities and local aid drives can be a big task. The Really worried about the Ukraine thread hasn't really been covering this topic so I'm starting this thread as a place where we can list efforts that are happening around the world to help the Ukrainian people.

Please feel free to include everything from food and medicine drives, to charities that are having a direct impact, to the many Ukrainian neighbors (thank you Poland) who have opened their homes to the refugees of this terrible war. Let's talk about something more inspiring and maybe you'll hear about something that's right around the corner from you.

 

[DennisN]

Red Cross - Ukraine Crisis (single donations and monthly donations)
https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/ukraine

 

[DennisN]

And here is a page with many links I found when I was looking for ways to help:

(n.b. I can't personally vouch for it though, it's a Ukrainian page (but written in English), and I'm not Ukrainian)

• https://euromaidanpress.com/2022/02/27/verified-ways-to-help-the-ukrainian-army/ (EuroMaidan Press)

 

[Borek]

For video game players: itch.io has bundle for Ukraine (ends in about 35 hours), on Friday there will be Humble Bundle for Ukraine (my The USB Stick Found in the Grass will be included). In both cases 100% of proceeds go to charities, there is no revenue for developers/publishers nor itch.io/Humble.

Friend of mine did the route Warsaw-border-Warsaw driving refugees for free over ten times now. I feel guilty for not doing the same, I am just donating to charities so far I know several I trust, but they are Polish so difficult to transfer money to from abroad.

 

[Borg]

This story about volunteers in my area who are assembling small medical kits for Ukraine isn't far from me.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/...-assemble-first-aid-kits-for-ukraine/3000331/

 

[vela]

The website Charity Navigator rates charities and has a page on the Ukrainian crisis. It's a good starting point.

 

[DennisN]

I just saw a long video called Russia, Ukraine, and the West | Frederick Kagan | The JBP Podcast (the video was extremely detailed and excellent, by the way), and they recommended a link a page with ways to help.

Here it is: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nata...topputinnet-activity-6903830899821985793-Z_qb

Nataliya Bugayova
Director of Strategic Insights at Vertical Knowledge | Russia Research Fellow at Institute for the Study of War

Many of you around the world have asked me how to help Ukraine.

Here are at least 8 ways. More ways - in the comments.
If you have verified additions, please PM.

1. Join rallies in your city: https://www.stopputin.net

2. Support financially - here are my top picks:
- National Bank of Ukraine - assistance to Ukraine's Armed Forces: https://lnkd.in/dNtpafFf
- Razom for Ukraine: a leading civil society organization engaged in extensive humanitarian, logistics and civic efforts. https://lnkd.in/ebfCU54i
- Come Back Alive: a Ukraine-based ngo, helps Ukraine's Armed Forces via technical assistance, supplying armor and medical equipment. https://savelife.in.ua?trk=public_post_share-update_update-text; donate: https://lnkd.in/dSAZf97n?trk=public_post_share-update_update-text.
- Tactical medical training and emergency response by Razom for Ukraine: https://lnkd.in/eC7eFf-H
- The Hospitaliers - a volunteer field medics battalion: https://lnkd.in/evR63uNk .
- Local Journalism. The Kyiv Independent is Ukraine’s top English-language media reporting on the conflict. https://lnkd.in/eTJbqzfB

3. Support the Knowledge Effort.
- Bellingcat is launching an archive of cases of Russia's attacks on civilians. One can send link/info to @MaximEdwards on Twitter.
- Warcrime SOS is an initiative of human rights activists gathering evidence of Russian war crimes. Send information pertaining to human rights violations to: http://WarcrimeSOS.UA@gmail.com?trk=public_post_share-update_update-text

4. Volunteer (including remotely) with RAZOM for Ukraine. A wide range of other skills are needed. https://lnkd.in/e-KthwfB

5. Change business conduct (ESG)
- Make an official statement from your company condemning the war - Stop investing, producing, advising in Russia
- Stop using Russia in your supply chains

6. Inform. Reach out to contacts in Russia and Belarus. The Kremlin is keeping Russians in the dark about the invasion, casualties, and targeting of civilians.
- Share verified non-Russian info of the events in Ukraine
- ‘Find Yours’ project. https://200rf.com is a project of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. It provides information about captured and killed Russian soldiers. The website is blocked in Russia, but should still be accessible via Telegram. https://t.me/rf200_now [warning: graphic]
- Ukraine established a hotline called "Return alive from Ukraine" for the families of killed or captured Russian soldiers. Callers can find out whether relatives are alive, taken prisoner, or injured. The line can be reached at +380894201860 or +380894201861. - UNIAN has opened a library of war photographs. https://photo.unian.info [warning: graphic]
- The Kremlin is pulling Belarus into its war. Reach out to friends in Belarus to inform them about what is happening.

7. Ukraine has created the Foreign Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, through which volunteers can join the Ukrainian military. A local Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate should have more info.

 

[Jarvis323]

It's not that high on the list maybe, but Airbnb has helped with the refugee crisis.

• Airbnb.org and Airbnb are announcing that Airbnb.org will offer free, short-term housing to up to 100,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine.
• These stays will be funded by Airbnb, Inc., donors to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund, and the generosity of Hosts through Airbnb.org.
• Anyone interested in opening their homes to support this effort can learn how to get involved at airbnb.org/help-ukraine.

https://news.airbnb.com/help-ukraine/

Also, people have been booking stays though Airbnb in Ukraine without planning to go, as a way to donate money. Not sure that is the most effective. At least it goes directly to people in Ukraine, but it probably doesn't go to the neediest.

 

[Jarvis323]

The website Charity Navigator rates charities and has a page on the Ukrainian crisis. It's a good starting point.

I think the ratings might not always be that reliable, because UNICEF only has 3 stars, while lots of others have 4. But if you look at the score breakdown, UNICEF does better on all of the things that really matter than most (better than Save the Children), but has a very low score on working capital, and a low score on assets (which are basically indicators of how likely the charity is to go bankrupt). But I doubt that will happen any time soon.

 

[Borek]

Hi PF gamers: the bundle I mentioned before is finally live: https://www.humblebundle.com/stand-with-ukraine-bundle

 

[Fervent Freyja]

My preference so far has been supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine through donating directly to the Bank of Ukraine. The sooner that this can be stopped or halted, the less humanitarian aid that will be needed later down the road.

Other links:
Friends of Moldova
World Central Kitchen
Care in Poland
Polish Red Cross

I haven't checked it out, but if people want to donate directly to people in Ukraine, then they could contact local restaurants there and "buy" food. I know that some places in Kyiv are operating to feed the people.

It appears that donating materials directly to Ukraine is not preferred and cash donations help. But I was happy to see companies that sell feminine hygiene products begin mass producing kits for women in need.

I was relieved that my country announced that they will take in 100,000 refugees. The cost will probably be 8 billion dollars during a 5 year period. I had not been expecting that.

 

[Isopod]

My teacher (Polish with Ukrainian relatives) said that the best thing you can do is donate money directly to the Ukrainian Embassy as he said that the money can then be used by people exactly as its needed.

‘We need cash, not clothes’: https://metro.co.uk/2022/03/21/stop...ssage-from-those-helping-ukrainians-16302962/

 

[artis]

Best way to support Ukraine not just now but in the future , and any country that tries to be free, is to support politicians that are willing to stand up for a rules based international order where one can;'t just go and grab whatever is on the table, that applies to not just Russia but also China and Taiwan situation.

So if your an American for example strengthening your own country against forces that try to rip it apart from the inside is in a way directly benefiting Ukrainians and other people because so far US has been among the anchors of global stability, We must stay vigilant and not fall for blind acceptance or denial and God forbid we must not fall into laziness because every evil work in the history of this world has been done with the silent agreement of the majority in the places it has happened.

If Russia ever had a clear majority that is against all of this then none of it would ever happen. Little men with ambitions like Putin can only do what they do if the majority either directly or indirectly supports it.

Therefore anyone who believes violence is never justified should do the exact opposite directly oppose it by whatever means available to them, even little things like continuing the discussion about how wrong it is and not forgetting.

 

[catmoy]

Best way to support Ukraine not just now but in the future , and any country that tries to be free, is to support politicians that are willing to stand up for a rules based international order where one can;'t just go and grab whatever is on the table, that applies to not just Russia but also China and Taiwan situation.

So if your an American for example strengthening your own country against forces that try to rip it apart from the inside is in a way directly benefiting Ukrainians and other people because so far US has been among the anchors of global stability,We must stay vigilant and not fall for blind acceptance or denial and God forbid we must not fall into laziness because every evil work in the history of this world has been done with the silent agreement of the majority in the places it has happened.

If Russia ever had a clear majority that is against all of this then none of it would ever happen. Little men with ambitions like Putin can only do what they do if the majority either directly or indirectly supports it.

Therefore anyone who believes violence is never justified should do the exact opposite directly oppose it by whatever means available to them, even little things like continuing the discussion about how wrong it is and not forgetting.

As an American I agree. The best way to keep peace is to be bigger and stronger than anyone else. Bullies and tyrants pick on those they perceive as week. No one picks on the 6'5" 220lb bodybuilder on campus. Unfortunately war is very profitable for so many and so they have no desire to end them. Do you notice how any war we get into seems to go on forever? Who cares about all the pain and suffering war causes as long as politicians and their donors can line their pockets.

 

[Borg]

Plenty of people care.

 

[catmoy]

You and I care. To many in power don't.

 

[jedishrfu]

It's best to stay true to this thread's original theme and provide concrete examples of how people are helping Ukraine, lest we veer into political discourse, oblivion, and thread closure.

 

[catmoy]

Sorry , your right.

 

[pinball1970]

Sorry , your right.

Post number 12.

‘We need cash, not clothes’: https://metro.co.uk/2022/03/21/stop...ssage-from-those-helping-ukrainians-16302962/

This seems the best way. Money to them and let them decide if they need clothes food etc.