Ways to Help the People of Ukraine: It Shouldn't Have to Happen to You For It to Matter to You by Ann Marie G. Halstead

At the time of this writing, in early March of 2022, nearly a million Ukrainians have fled their homes for safety in neighboring countries. European Union officials predict that as the conflict continues, as many as 7 million people could be displaced. I often tell my university students that “it shouldn’t have to happen to you for it to matter to you.” 

It’s clear that the people of Ukraine matter to citizens around the world. Humans across the globe care about the hundreds of thousands of displaced families, those on the front lines, and those waiting out the conflict in their homes. I’ve seen friends post on social media asking what they can do to support the Ukrainian people. While there are many ways to help, sometimes the quickest and easiest way to help during an international crisis is to offer financial support.

If you are able to do so, please consider making a donation. Here is a list of organizations and how they’ll utilize your monetary contributions to support the Ukrainian people:

• Razom for Ukraine: Established in 2014 and dedicated to building a stronger democracy in Ukraine, Razom for Ukraine is now focused on providing “critical medical supplies and amplifying the voices of Ukrainians,” according to the organization’s website. Financial contributions will be used to purchase medical supplies and satellite phones. Razom for Ukraine is “working to collaborate with large U.S. nonprofits that provide medical supplies to countries in crisis."

• International Rescue Committee: The International Rescue Committee specializes in assisting refugees across the globe who have been forced from their homes. Monetary gifts will help the organization to “provide food, medical care and emergency supplies to refugee families” in Ukraine and other countries, such as Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen. Their website states that "eighty-seven cents of every dollar that IRC spends worldwide goes directly to help refugees and others in desperate need.”

• GlobalGiving: According to their website, for nearly 20 years GlobalGiving has been “shifting decision-making power to crises-affected communities through trust-based grantmaking and support. [They] make it easy, quick and safe to support people on the ground who understand needs in their communities better than anyone else.” GlobalGiving has begun a Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund which will provide shelter, food and water to the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees. The fund will also be used for education, economic assistance and health care, including mental health care.

• International Committee of the Red Cross: “The International Committee of the Red Cross is an independent, neutral organization ensuring humanitarian protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence," states their website. The organization is supporting the work of the Ukrainian Red Cross in helping those impacted by the war. “...Teams now in Ukraine will continue their work to repair vital infrastructure, support health facilities with medicines and equipment, and support families with food and hygiene items."

• Voices of Children: The Ukraine-based charitable foundation Voices of Children has been offering psychological and psychosocial support to children affected by war in the country since 2015. According to their website, such support "helps [the kids] overcome the consequences of armed conflict...” Today, the organization is providing “non-stop assistance to affected children and families from all over the country, providing emergency psychological assistance, and assisting in the evacuation process."

• World Central Kitchen: Founded by world-renowned chef José Andrés following a devastating earthquake in Haiti 2010, World Central Kitchen is a non-profit dedicated to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters. To support refugees escaping the violence in Ukraine, "WCK began serving hot, nourishing meals in Poland within a day of the initial attack and [they] are now set up at eight border crossings, as well as in Przemyśl – a city receiving many refugee families” (wck.org).
  

• Doctors Without Borders: Doctors Without Borders, or MSF (Medecins Sans Frontieres), is an organization that provides medical care during humanitarian crises across the globe. Since 1971, MSF has treated tens of millions of people. Donations to the organization will fund emergency medicine, mass casualty kits and emergency preparedness training for local hospitals. According to MSF’s website, “As hostilities continue, ensuring people’s access to health care and medicines will be critical."

• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the refugee agency for the United Nations, is accepting donations to provide legal assistance, health care and supplies to refugees from Ukraine. According to their website, UNHCR is currently “on the ground providing assistance and increasing its capacity to ensure families and children find safety in welcoming arms in this moment of crisis.” Your donation will also support families “after the crisis passes, ensuring they have the necessary resources and support as they work tirelessly to rebuild their lives.”
  

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