The City of West Hollywood is encouraging community members to take part in donating to organizations that are in urgent need of contributions to provide support in Ukraine, such as emergency aid, medical care, humanitarian support, and more.
The City of West Hollywood is activating its West Hollywood Responds program to help encourage contributions to agencies and organizations that are working to help people in Ukraine as well as those seeking refuge. The City has assembled a list of organizations on its website at www.weho.org/wehoresponds.
“In Ukraine, the unprovoked attack of Russian military forces has caused an immediate crisis of human suffering and need,” said City of West Hollywood Mayor Lauren Meister. “Many West Hollywood community members are reaching out and asking what they can do to help. There are lots of organizations that are focused on immediate assistance to people in Ukraine and I know West Hollywood’s residents and business will generously aim to help people in Ukraine who have been forced to flee from their homes and communities as violence escalates there. We must do what we can to help.”
The list of local and international resources below offer a variety of opportunities to provide direct support to the people of Ukraine.
Airlink
https://airlinkflight.org/responses/ukraine/
Airlink is a rapid-response humanitarian relief organization that connects airlines and pre-qualified nonprofits to help communities in crisis. Airlink has supported the transportation of 5 assessment and emergency response teams to Poland, Romania and Moldova, with more on their way. They are currently working with humanitarian, logistics, and airline partners to send relief supplies.
CARE (Cooperative For Assistance And Relief Everywhere)
https://www.care.org/our-work/where-we-work/ukraine/
CARE works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. CARE has launched a humanitarian appeal to support the most vulnerable Ukrainians, particularly women-headed households and the elderly. Emergency gifts support CARE’s Ukraine Crisis Fund to reach 4 million with immediate aid and recovery, food, water, hygiene kits, psychosocial support, and cash assistance — prioritizing women and girls, families, and the elderly.
- Donate online here or donate or call 1-800-521-CARE (1-800-521-2273) to donate by telephone.
- CARE is partnering with Airbnb to host 100,000 refugees from Ukraine. To host a refugee, please click here.
Direct Relief
https://www.directrelief.org/
A Santa Barbara-based organization that works to equip health professionals in resource-poor communities to meet the challenges of caring for people in need. Direct Relief received a list from the Ukrainian Ministry of Health of needed items, such as medications and mobile medical outreach packs with CAT-style tourniquets and bandages. Direct Relief has also received information indicating a dire need for tranexamic acid, which is used to control severe bleeding by blocking the breakdown of blood clots. They recently sent a large shipment of diabetic supplies and they are offering Ukrainian partners IV fluids, antibiotics, medications for anesthesia, sutures, and cardiovascular medication.
- Donate by credit card or PayPal here or donate cryptocurrency and NFTs here.
- Volunteer opportunities are available in Santa Barbara. Please call 1-805-964-4767 or visit their website here.
Doctors without Borders
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières is an independent, global nonprofit organization providing medical aid where it’s needed most. Emergency teams have arrived at the Polish-Ukrainian border and are currently trying to get essential staff and supplies into Ukraine. They are working to set up emergency response activities and dispatching teams to Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.
- Donate here
Global Empowerment Mission
https://www.globalempowermentmission.org/mission/ukraine-crisis/
Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) is a nonprofit organization founded as a first responder to global disasters. GEM has established a welcome center in Medyka, Poland on the Ukraine border. The Welcome Center will serve as a relocation and aid center. Ukrainian evacuees can choose a country where they have family or friends that can take them in. Donations will assist in relocating thousands of women and children throughout Europe and funds will be used for booking and paying for immediate transportation.
- Donate here
GlobalGiving
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/ukraine-crisis-relief-fund/
GlobalGiving is a nonprofit that supports other nonprofits by connecting them to donors. All donations to the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund will support humanitarian assistance in impacted communities in Ukraine and surrounding regions where Ukrainian refugees have fled. GlobalGiving’s nonprofit partners are providing shelter, food, clean water, psychosocial support, and economic assistance to displaced communities.
- Donate here
HIAS
https://www.hias.org/hias-responds-crisis-ukraine
HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives. Originally established in 2001 to assist Jewish migrants emigrating from Ukraine to the United States, HIAS’ presence today is through a partnership with Right to Protection (R2P), an independent Ukrainian NGO based in Kyiv with offices across Ukraine.
- Make an emergency donation to help support HIAS’ Ukraine Crisis Response here.
- HIAS is partnering with Airbnb to host 100,000 refugees from Ukraine. To host a refugee, please visit: https://www.airbnb.org/help-ukraine.
International Committee of the Red Cross
https://www.icrc.org/en/humanitarian-crisis-ukraine
The International Committee of the Red Cross – together with its partners in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – remain active in Ukraine, saving and protecting the lives of victims of armed conflict and violence. ICRC water engineers and doctors aim to help more than 3 million people access clean water and improve the living conditions of those whose homes have been damaged by heavy fighting. ICRC supports people with emergency assistance, essential items, and helps families separated by the conflict reconnect.
- Donate to the ICRC here
International Medical Corps
https://internationalmedicalcorps.org/
A Los Angeles-based organization that provides emergency relief to those struck by conflict, disaster, and disease. International Medical Corps is responding to the conflict in Ukraine by expanding access to medical and mental health services for those living in affected communities.
- Donate online here or call (424) 252-6008 to donate by telephone
International Rescue Committee
https://www.rescue.org/
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. The IRC is on the ground in Poland and preparing to support displaced families. Emergency donations will help provide food, medical care, and emergency supplies to refugee families.
- Donate here
- IRC offers volunteer opportunities to work remotely and in-person. To volunteer, please visit: https://www.rescue.org/volunteer.
- IRC is partnering with Airbnb to help house 100,000 refugees. To host a refugee, please visit: https://www.airbnb.org/help-ukraine.
Nova Ukraine
https://novaukraine.org/
A 501(c)3 registered non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about Ukraine in the US and throughout the world and providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine. They organize fundraisers and round table discussions dedicated to Ukraine and participate in various cultural events.
- To donate by mail, PayPal, or cryptocurrency, please click here.
- To volunteer, please visit https://novaukraine.org/volunteer/ or join the Volunteers Group on Facebook.
Operation USA (OpUSA)
https://www.opusa.org/developing-supporting-ukrainians/
OpUSA is a Los Angeles-based international disaster relief agency that helps communities overcome the effects of disasters, disease, violence, and endemic poverty. The organization is partnering with the Association of Community Foundations in Poland to provide aid to Ukrainian refugees. The organization is sending bulk shipments of material aid and provides additional support to community-based partners assisting refugees.
- Please contact [email protected] to make material donations. OpUSA maintains a 25,000 sq ft warehouse in the Port of LA where they stage and ship material aid to communities in need. A wish list of disaster-relief items can be found here.
- To donate by credit card, bank transfer, or PayPal, please visit here.
- To donate by text, type AID to 50555 to donate $10. Charges will appear on your wireless bill or be deducted from your prepaid balance.
Team Rubicon
https://teamrubiconusa.org/
Team Rubicon serves communities by mobilizing veterans to continue their service, leveraging their skills and experience to help people prepare, respond, and recover from disasters and humanitarian crises. They aim to provide the greatest impact by pairing the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders, medical professionals, and technology solutions. The Team — including physicians — are currently in Poland to coordinate support as the situation continues to unfold.
- Donate through credit card, bank transfer, and cryptocurrency here
- Volunteer to serve on a veteran led team here
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/conflict-ukraine-pose-immediate-threat-children
UNICEF works in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. UNICEF is ramping up efforts to meet critical needs for safe water, healthcare, education, protection, and providing supplies as close as possible to communities near the line of contact. Currently, UNICEF has 10 mobile teams operating in the east. These child protection mobile teams respond to violence, abuse, separation from family, gender-based violence, mental health, and disability cases.
- Donate here
United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/
UNHCR works to protect and assist refugees everywhere. During times of displacement, UNHCR provides critical emergency assistance in the form of clean water, sanitation, healthcare; as well as shelter, blankets, household goods, and food. They also arrange transport and assistance packages for people who return home and income-generating projects for those who resettle.
- Donate here
