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James Russo's avatar

Thank you so much for your very real account of what is going on. It breaks my heart. My grandmother was first generation from Ukraine to the United States.

I feel like my hands are tied. What can I do here in the US to help the Ukrainian people?

God bless you and God bless the Ukraine!

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Larissa Babij's avatar

Thank you, James! Your attention and caring about Ukraine is the first step. Here are some more concrete things you can do from the US to help Ukraine:

Communicate your support of Ukraine to your Senators and Representative in Congress and encourage our gov't to keep sending military and humanitarian aid by writing, calling, and voting for those with a strong record of supporting Ukraine.

Every US dollar spent on military, economic and humanitarian aid means Ukraine can win the war more quickly, its families can return home and rebuild, and Ukraine can turn its energy to serving as a strong partner in holding up democratic principles and rule of law.

Donate to a charity with a strong track record in Ukraine. Listed below are homegrown organizations that I have worked closely with and and can vouch from personal experience that they are wholly devoted to the most efficient and effective use of funds for achieving their stated goals.

Community Self-Help – Lviv-based organization that provides medical supplies to hospitals around Ukraine. Current priority: supplying medicines to the Borodyanka Medical Center, serving victims of russian atrocities in the Kyiv region, and also Ukrainian defenders. Donate: https://www.communityselfhelp.org

Heroes Ukraine – charitable foundation in Mykolaiv, near the southern front, which supports a local Special Operations Forces unit specializing in aerial reconnaissance and drone warfare. Raising funds to support developing several new drone models tailored to the Ukrainian military’s current needs and designed for easy, local mass-production. Donate: https://heroesukraine.org/en/donate

Ukrainian Patriot – grassroots organization founded by a Ukrainian-Canadian transplanted to Kyiv, providing protective gear and tactical medical supplies to those working on the front lines, as well as humanitarian aid to meet real on-the-ground needs. Fund-raising priorities: outfitting front-line defenders and support personnel, hemostatics, and establishing a physical home for the organization headquarters, warehouse, and temporary residence for evacuees. Donate: https://ukrainianpatriot.org/

Remember: If Russia stops fighting, there is no more war; if Ukraine stops fighting, there is no more Ukraine.

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