Images of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have flooded our social media feeds, televisions and newspapers in recent days and moved many Philadelphians to rally in support of the Ukrainian people and pray for peace.
There are a multitude of options for those looking to lend financial assistance to Ukraine as the war in Eastern Europe continues.
Locally, the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, which is headquartered on Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia, is raising money for medical supplies, food and shelter for Ukrainians displaced by the conflict.
The longstanding organization, formed during World War II to help refugees, has already solicited about $126,000 through its verified GoFundMe page.
In addition, the Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia is collecting donations for a humanitarian fund.
Checks can be mailed to the church’s headquarters at 810 N. Franklin St., Philadelphia, PA 19123, with “Humanitarian Aid Fund for Ukraine” written on the check. A Paypal link is also available on the diocese’s website at www.ukrarcheparchy.us.
The Feasterville-based Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, which operates several branches in the region, said Sunday that members can now quickly wire money without fees directly to the Ukrainian armed forces.
Others can also donate to the country’s armed forces in U.S. dollars through a special National Bank of Ukraine account at www.bank.gov.ua/en/.
Nova Ukraine, a charitable organization that has provided support since Russia’s 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula, has raised more than $1.1 million through a Facebook fundraiser.
The group says it has volunteers on the ground and is in the process of shipping diapers, baby food and hospital equipment from the United States.
Support Hospitals in Ukraine, a team collaborating with Project C.U.R.E. and other U.S. foreign aid organizations, is aiming to send 20 containers of medical supplies to Ukrainian cities. Partnerships allow the drive to send $25 to $30 worth of equipment for each dollar donated, organizers said.
The Jenkintown-based Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center also recommends directing funds to the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, which is collecting money on Facebook and at www.unwla.org, and United Help Ukraine, through its website, www.unitedhelpukraine.org.
Razom, a Ukrainian American organization, has collected a useful list of links for those interested in helping out from aboard at www.linktr.ee/razomforukraine.
Getting accurate information in a war zone is critical, especially in a time of rampant disinformation, which is why hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised for the Kyiv Independent, a key English-language news source in Ukraine.
Another GoFundMe is also gaining steam to support a group of Ukrainian media outlets covering the invasion.
