How you can help *in* Ukraine
A very incomplete list of grassroots organisations & volunteers helping on the ground right now. No matter how challenging the situation in Europe is at the moment, the situation in Ukraine is worse.
I have spent a lot of this past year thinking about the role of large NGOs, the names we have all heard of, the organizations with big budgets and advertising and name recognition, and all the tiny grassroots organizations, the volunteers, the unseen heroes doing the hard work on the ground, delivering food and medicine to people in need in Ukraine who for a myriad of reasons decided not to leave their homes this winter. Our work here in Austria with Cards for Ukraine is important, but we are not saving lives. Although I have not had the opportunity to see it for my own eyes, I firmly believe the volunteers working on the ground in Ukraine are doing exactly that. They are filling in the gaps in a society whose economy has collapsed (war) and pensions were tiny to begin with (emerging market).
I realise it is an impossible task to put together anything resembling a complete list, and all of this should come with a huge ASTERISK: I do not know these people nor organizations personally and I cannot vouch for any of them with 100% certainty. Having said that, I am sharing contacts of organizations “my” Ukrainians here in Austria have direct contact with. Ideally, but not always, with a strong social media presence and documentation of their work, and PayPal or Apple/Google Pay to make donating from abroad easier.
I began by asking Twitter for recommendations, not wanting to reinvent the wheel. The first discovery was this amazing website created by the Ukraine’s ministry for social policy, eDopomoga. It essentially connects individual donors from around the world with Ukrainians who say they need financial help this winter. I can imagine, like any such project, the better your communication, the more specific your description of your particular situation, the more likely you are to receive help. Mastercard appears to be sponsoring the project at first glance, and the website really looks impressive. I cannot believe I didn’t learn of it earlier!
Direct aid is a lot of what I have been by default working on this year. Just yesterday, I met two women who recently arrived in Austria and are sleeping on cots in Stadhalle. I gave them each a Hofer card. They told me they walk everywhere because they cannot afford subway tickets. By evening, someone who reads me on Twitter reached out and offered to buy them each a monthly pass. I asked for their last names, passed on the info, within half an hour they each had a PDF monthly transport pass in their Telegram chats with me. A stranger spent €100, massively improved the lives of two women she doesn’t know, only read about in a tweet. And so on and so forth. Ad infinitum.
Another amazing resource I discovered yesterday is this fantastic Google doc, UKRAINE DONATION GUIDE, very thoughtfully put together by Darya Zorka (and regularly updated!). Darya has separated all the grassroots organizations into six categories. The third is probably closest to the kind of work I was thinking about when I wanted to put together such a list.
Another great resource which I only learned of this week, How to help the Ukrainian people, in and outside Ukraine, in 2023. A freshly compiled list (dated January 4), with brief descriptions, contacts, and how to donate.
Months ago I read this report from the UK about the science of humanitarian aid and the economics of charity work vis a vis the war in Ukraine, and it was fascinating. In short, the report illustrated how tiny grassroots organizations and groups of individual volunteers perform the vast majority of critical work on the ground in Ukraine, while major NGOs, the names we have all heard of, only perform a fraction of this arguably life-saving work. Moreover, the report also illustrated the science which is that, with the exception of active war zones, the best aid you can give is cash or cash equivalent. Which reaffirms our approach. I have always liked the idea of working with a cash equivalent (grocery cards) rather than “stuff” for many reasons.
First, you restore the recipients dignity and freedom of choice. Handing over physical cash can sometimes be icky; I did this often at the train station, and yes some people are very reluctant to accept money from a stranger, but a card they usually feel comfortable to take as a gift, no problem. NGOs also hand out cards, which makes them easier to receive. They feel like something everyone is entitled to, rather than a handout per se. Having said all that, I also understand why in many parts of Ukraine volunteers are focused on delivering bags of basic food items and medicine, especially in those areas near or in active front lines. For the elderly, someone delivering heavy bags and food for their pets and bottled water and other such supplies is performing a service in carrying the bags to their apartments, particularly with elevators out of order for hours at a time with electricity cuts.
So, with all of that preamble, below is a list of grassroots organizations and volunteers personally recommended to me by the Ukrainians in Austria in my Telegram group. I asked them only to recommend folks they know firsthand. I have arranged the list by geography in alphabetical order.
Again, I do not know these people or organisations personally, but they have all been recommended to me by Ukrainians now residing in Austria as personal connections.
As you can see from the list, despite my best efforts to make this look somewhat orderly, the aid sector is very, very fragmented and no one has put together a comprehensive, verified list. This may be next to impossible, but you have to start somewhere. This is my attempt at a start and I can publish updates as I receive more information. One thing I learned this past year is you cannot raise money unless you tell the story. Telling the story is half the work! This is a lesson it takes time to learn, and some are better than others at it. Not every natural volunteer is a natural PR person, nor should they be.
Bila Tserkva
Veronika Lytvynenko is currently in Austria but collects aid on a regular basis for families with several children in her hometown of Bila Tserkva.
Cherkassy
Tamara Rogoza is a local volunteer leading a group that provides aid to soldiers and humanitarian aid. “They were already crying on the phone, they said, now number one is the purchase of thermal plates for the military, plus clothes and household items in the hostel for the displaced, they provide, help 3 hostels, they said the report would be made in English. Unfortunately, there are few resources, but they are energetic and positive, they constantly weave protective nets, bake, and cook. Wounded fighters are visited in the hospital.” PayPal olystar71@gmail.com
Chernihiv
Volodymyr Aler is a local volunteer helping families with children and the elderly in Chernihiv.
Dnipro
Maria Solomenko is a volunteer actively helping on the ground in Dnipro, including after the most recent, horrific attack on the apartment building which killed dozens. On her Instagram she writes she is gathering direct aid for the victims’ families. PayPal sokolenkomaria22@gmail.com
Irpin
Return of Childhood is helping children in Irpin. Apple Pay here
Kharkiv
Polina Shumakova (age 20!) has been actively sharing on her Twitter and Instagram her group’s on the ground direct humanitarian aid to residents of Kharkiv. She provides full reports and itemised lists of what was purchased and distributed. PayPal polina.star98@gmail.com
Rescue Now evacuated thousands from Kharkiv and Donestk regions. Also delivering humanitarian aid in Kharkiv. More info and photos on their website. PayPal rescuenow.ua@gmail.com
Feldman Ecopark. “Kharkiv, Great Ecopark with wonderful and unique animals, that were evacuated thanks to parks' team, during those times not all species survived under bombing attack, also rescue team lost volunteers that died during attacks, among them very young boy. This team, Feldman couple, family, is the Head of Ecopark, also help people with food, to survive since 1st days of war. So exciting, inspiring history Feldman team has as volunteers.”
Oleg Tuiev is a local volunteer in Kharkiv.
Kherson
Irina Begun operates the charity fund Ya Vdoma which is delivering food, medicine and humanitarian aid to the de-occupied areas of Kherson, to children, the elderly, and the ill. PayPal and bank details here.
Kramatorsk
Healty Future aid organization helps medical institutions in Kramatorsk and Izyum.
Kropivnitsk
Viktoria Talashkevich is a local volunteer in Kropivnitsk and Kirovhrad region. I cannot find a donation link but I would message her directly over Facebook (links there to other pages but her Twitter does not seem active).
Kyiv
Kateryna Gaieva is the sister of the husband of one of the Ukrainian women I know in Vienna, who herself is active in NGOs. You can see all the photo evidence for yourself on her Instagram. She personally purchases, transports from Kyiv and hands over the necessary goods at the request of military and medical companies in the Donetsk region. Apple Pay link here. I am told she also has PayPal but I could not find it, I would DM her on Instagram.
Dolonii Nadii Kyiv-based charity fund delivering humanitarian and military aid. Lots of photos of their work on their Instagram. Video of their work this summer in Donestk oblast in areas de-occupied. PayPal dima24d@icloud.com
Anastasia is a Kyiv-based volunteer recommended to me by a refugee in Austria. She is delivering humanitarian aid (medicines, things for children) and a lot to the military serving near Bakhmut. PayPal 1907niknas1907@gmail.com
Natalia Komarenko and her fund With a Warm Heart are helping sick children, refugees, and the military. PayPal: natako2704@gmail.com
Kyiv Style Kittens. Their website shows both military and humanitarian aid, but unfortunately no Paypal address.
Odesa
Daria Maslova has been running a charity fund for years in Odesa to help veterans and the elderly. You see photo evidence of her work here. Unfortunately I could not find a PayPal, only a Ukrainian bank card number for donations. I would imagine you could contact Daria over Facebook Messenger and ask how to donate from abroad.
Gostinna Hata “Hospitable Hut” local humanitarian aid center. Is helping refugees in Odesa who arrived from Mariupol, Mykolaiv and Kherson. PayPal and more info here.
Mykolaiv
Niko Volunteers “And here is another very good organization. A doctor in Nikolaev - Kudrinskaya Maria Fedorovna fled the war from Donetsk in 2014, while still a student at the Medical University. She worked in Nikolaev as a general practitioner. She lived with a man with whom she planned to connect her whole life. During the full-scale offensive of the Russian Federation in 2022, he went to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and was killed in March. Maria Fedorovna poured all her pain and grief into volunteer activities, helping hospitals, people with disabilities, pensioners, large families and everyone in need, and, of course, the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Here is the page of the company that organized and goes there for its activities.”
Marina Resheteeva is helping animals in Mykolaiv. PayPal masareseteeva@gmail.com
Olga Kolesnik is a volunteer based in Mykolaiv providing both civilian and military humanitarian aid (gifts for kids, trench candles). Olga has been an active volunteer since 2014. PayPal neket88888@gmail.com
“Good afternoon. My name is Alexander Kamnev, I am a pastor of one of the New Generation Christian Evangelical Churches in Nikolaev, Ukraine, and also the leader of the volunteer movement in our church. Since the beginning of Russia's large-scale military aggression against our country, we have been providing assistance in the evacuation and humanitarian support of those who remained in Nikolaev, Kherson and many villages in these regions, more than 18,000 people received assistance through us over more than 10 months of the war. We are a very small organization, but we do a great job thanks to quick decisions and constant workload. We continue to provide assistance to internally displaced persons, the poor, families with children, the disabled and victims of shelling in our region. We also help medical institutions and our defenders from various units. We guarantee integrity and accountability.” PayPal: kuzmich121@gmail.com
Pavlohrad
Kvityche Pole is a local organizations helping IDPs in Pavlohrad. Plenty of photo evidence on their Instagram of their activities. PayPal: migas98989@gmail.com
Poland
Polish-based DC Charity Foundation comes highly recommended from a Ukrainian I know in Vienna. PayPal. They are delivering both military and civilian aid (breakdown here).
ZSU Angels
A group of wives and mothers delivering aid to the Ukrainian army. Ruslana Grafova is active sharing videos and photos their work on Twitter. PayPal: eurodekor7144773@ukr.net
This preliminary list probably represents 0.0000001% of the volunteer work taking place in Ukraine at the moment, but one must start somewhere. For more “vetted” lists please see here and here. I hope the links provide at least an opportunity to contact volunteers directly, ask them about their work, ask them about what they need. It is a learning curve for all of us. Again, I cannot endorse any of these individuals or organizations as I have not met them nor seen their work with their own eyes. But I am inclined to think a dollar spent to help someone on the ground is much better than a dollar donated to a big NGO, 90 cents of which will go to overhead and PR. IMHO, of course. Just like when you send us €50 for a grocery card (here or here) all €50 go directly into a €50 grocery card that is sent or handed to a Ukrainian family in Austria. One per family, one time. Mario and I are volunteers. No overhead. Etc etc.
Dear Tanja,
first I have to make a confession. I haven't been able to read your reports since around Christmas. I just didn't have the strength to bear the pain that reading caused.
Not only the suffering of the Ukrainians, inside and outside their country, gave me sleepless nights.
I'm also still fighting as a climate activist (so to speak). And also in climate policy I'm starting to despair completely. Greed and stupidity, the failure in Austria AND worldwide, .... The future of humanity is in question.
Somehow everything became too much for me.
I read your report yesterday. It hit my "problem" exactly. I ALWAYS wondered how to help people IN Ukraine.
Since summer of 2022, I've been donating a little monthly here https://wck.org/story, with the note "For UKRAINE".
Now your article came, and yesterday I registered here https://social.edopomoga.gov.ua/de/ and donated to maintain the platform (basis!) and to a mother of three children the medicines needed.
It was super easy; well, you have to read a bit - and only at the end did I see that you can also set "German" (top right).
Since I don't use paypal and the like, I was very happy to be able to process it with my credit card. (They also use the secured paths there; great)
In general, I find the idea and the implementation (the website) and the underlying IT (the entire handling process!) sensationally well thought out and simple.
Austria and Germany can only be ashamed about their internet presence. - What can we do at all? :-((
The fundamental problem remains, of course: so many people need help IN Austria, IN the UKRAINE and WORLDWIDE that it is difficult to decide where to start. But you have to make a decision. Always hoping that you won't be the only one.
I wish you, dear Tanja, a lot of donors for https://cards-for-ukraine.at/donate. That too is so important.
I hug you in admiration and wish you continued strength AND many fellow campaigners.
yours sincerely Regina