How You Can Help Ukrainians: Here Are 10 Verified Charities

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. As of now, more than 422,000 people have fled Ukraine as Russia attacks cities from air and land. The escalated warfare has cost hundreds of civilian lives and captivated international denunciation. If you’re feeling helpless, we’ve narrowed down to ten verified organizations that are accepting donations, medical supplies and psychosocial treatment for traumatized victims and refugees.

As Russia invades Ukraine, many of us are sitting at home located thousands of miles away from the heart of war zone, wondering how we can help defenseless citizens and refugees forced to part from their families and homeland. Outside of the Red Cross and the UN, there’s a plethora of charities providing aid during the current crisis. I’ve compiled a list of verified organizations that are helping Ukrainians and their children who are vulnerable and savagely displaced.

NOTE: If you prefer to provide clothing, toys, books, and medical supplies; many of these organizations accept items outside of monetary donations. 

Nova Ukraine 

What it’s doing: Based in Palo Alto, California, Nova Ukraine is a 501(c)3  non-profit organization (EIN 465335435) raising awareness about Ukrainian crisis and offering humanitarian aid with volunteers.

At the start of the invasion, Nova Ukraine posted on Facebook, “With the help of our partners in Ukraine, we are identifying the areas where humanitarian efforts are needed the most. For example, the town of Shchastia in Luhansk Oblast got under fire from the Russian forces yesterday, damaging the electrical stations. The group of volunteers went on a mission to bring gasoline, candles, flashlights to the local population of the village. From a small village of Vrubivka that got under the shelling, the volunteers evacuated a group of teenagers to take away from active war into Kharkiv and later to West of Ukraine.”

How you can help: Directly donate to its organization or specifically head to this webpage Heart2Heart: Humanitarian Aid to most vulnerable Ukrainians, including: children’s shoes, clothing and:

• Bedding
• Kitchen utensils
• Personal hygiene items (toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine products)
• Baby food (with an expiration date of not less than 6 months from date of purchase)
• Diapers
• Medicine, vitamins, wheelchairs, diapers for adults, and other products for disabled people.

Save the Children

What it’s doing: Since 7.5 million children in Ukraine are in serious danger of physical harm, severe emotional distress and displacement following an escalation in hostilities; Save the Children’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund directly aids families with basic needs. Its team also helps Ukrainian children gain access to education and psychosocial guidance.

How you can help: Your donation today can help provide children and families with immediate aid, such as food, water, hygiene kits, psychosocial support and cash assistance.

Sunflower of Peace

What it’s doing: Sunflower of Peace is a Facebook fundraising page that began five years ago by preparing first-aid backpacks then giving them to front-line doctors. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has been providing backpacks to Ukrainian soldiers, citizens, and volunteers.

How you can help: You can donate through its website and Facebook page where founder Katya Malakhova writes, “Each backpack has the ability to save up to 10 lives: Ukrainian soldiers, civilians, volunteers, and children. These backpacks are designed for a second level of medical care in terms of combat action, according to the standards of tactical medicine (Tactical Combat Casualty Care,) namely the level of paramedics, arrow-sanitary department…Each backpack is designed for groups of 5 to 10 people and includes a variety of first-aid supplies: bandages, anti hemorrhagic medicine like Quikclot and Celox, medical instruments, and a means for survival in extreme conditions.”

Vostok SOS

What it’s doing: Vostok SOS is an Ukraine-based hotline, in collaboration with German-Swiss NGO Liberico to help Ukrainians evacuate their homes. It also provide psychoanalytical help to victims suffering from war trauma.

How you can help: The website offers three ways to help: monetary donation, give things, become a volunteer.

Razom for Ukraine

What it’s doing: Razom for Ukraine is a non-profit Ukrainian-American human rights organization supporting Ukrainians for their democratic human and civil rights by using social networks and organizing rallies that connect individuals with organizations and institutions.

How you can help: During the current crisis, Razom for Ukraine has established an Emergency Response by offering critical medical supplies for blood loss and amplifying the voices of Ukrainians. By donating either via credit card or through PayPal, you’re adding to funds to purchase supplies such as tourniquets bandages, combat gauzes, sterile pads, and satellite phones. Razom for Ukraine is also working with large US non-profits that provide medical supplies to countries in crisis.  On the logistics side, it’s arranging for warehouses and points of delivery in Poland and Ukraine.

United Help Ukraine

What it’s doing: This American non-profit was originally established in 2014 after the Crimea annexation. Right now, it is collecting money for first-aid kits for Ukrainians.

How you can help: Donate to its website via PayPal or through Facebook fundraising page, where it says, “Team UHU wants to THANK everyone who donated so far – we just crossed $1,000,000 mark!!!!! This is A LOT – but not enough. The situation is quickly developing, there is a great need for first aid medical supplies and humanitarian aid. As situation unfolds, we will begin providing humanitarian aid for refugees. Team UHU is working hard to locate, purchase, and deliver much needed supplies as soon as possible, given current situation in Ukraine.”

World Central Kitchen

People of the World…Like you, I am distraught watching Ukraine under attack. We must come together as a force for good! @WCKitchen is on Poland border delivering meals tonight—Romania soon. In addition to your donations…I am committing support from the Bezos award to Ukraine.🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/ws0EFl8zLd

— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) February 25, 2022

What it’s doing: Michelin-starred chef and humanitarian José Andrés has organized mobile kitchens at the Ukraine-Poland border to feed Ukrainians who are forced to flee their country. On Friday, the renowned chef tweeted, “People of the World…Like you, I am distraught watching Ukraine under attack, we must come together as a force for good! @WCKitchen is on Poland border delivering meals tonight—Romania soon. In addition to your donations…I am committing support from the Bezos award to Ukraine.”

How you can help: Your donation directly feeds refugees at the Ukraine-Poland border.

Hromada

What it’s doing: Hromada (meaning “community” in Ukrainian) is a San Francisco-based organization which has formed the Anhelyk Foundation supporting children of parents who died from fighting in Ukraine. The foundation aids these families by donating $50 per orphaned child, in addition to scholarships.

How you can help: Donations are accepted via PayPal, you can also contact your senators and congressmen with a letter in support of Ukraine. Download the template here.

Territory of Kindness

What it’s doing: Territory of Good Foundation was founded in January 2015 to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine and children living in the war zone of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The military donations go to medical supplies, equipment and technology. Donations for children fund orphanages, books, clothing, toys and hygienic products.

How you can help: Your donations are two-fold: for the military and for the displaced children from conflict. You can make a straightforward donation here.

Direct Relief

What it’s doing: Direct Relief, the Santa Barbara-based organization has already donated more than $27 million in medical aid. It is now continuing to supply Ukrainian health workers with anything from diabetes medication, antibiotics, anesthesia, sutures, and cardiovascular medication and much more. It commits to $500,000 for Ukraine crisis and aims to mobilize medical aid.

How you can help: Your monetary donation directly sends medical supplies to Ukrainian healthcare workers. On Direct Relief’s Facebook page, Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief CEO and President, says, “Direct Relief announced today that it will commit $500,000 to support health efforts in Ukraine and surrounding countries absorbing refugees fleeing violence and disruption. Direct Relief was created out of the ashes of WWII by Europeans who fled. It’s stunning and sad that humanitarian assistance is needed again in the same neighborhood, but it’s definitely consistent with our organization’s roots, initial focus, and longstanding mission.”