PRESS: How To Give It… to the humanitarian effort in Ukraine by Financial Times

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SOURCE: Financial Times

Rosanna Dodds

03.03.2022

 

PRESS TEXT:

How To Give It… to the humanitarian effort in Ukraine

Charities providing aid – and the fundraisers supporting them

Artists at Risk

“Assisting artists whose freedom and lives are at risk” is the motive behind this non-profit. Since its launch in 2013, Artists at Risk has launched 26 residences for artists facing persecution or imprisonment. To help Ukraine, the organisation has collected prints (each at €200) from more than 70 artists – including Tacita Dean, Nan Goldin, Jeremy Deller – for an emergency fundraiser. All proceeds from the sale will assist Ukrainian cultural workers in accessing emergency travel, shelter and financial support artistsatrisk.org

Habitat for Humanity

As temperatures fall below freezing in Romania – one of the five main countries taking in Ukrainian refugees – many charities have been sourcing air heaters for those living in tents on the border. Chief among them is Habitat for Humanity, a UK-based housing charity that’s also working to help displaced families access affordable rental housing, repurposing empty spaces for shelter and – in a new partnership with Ibis – offering free stays in hotels.

Action Against Hunger

A woman gives a hug to two people in Dolhobyczow, Poland, on 5 March It’s now predicted that 12mn people are in need of humanitarian assistance as a result of the crisis in Ukraine. As a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee, international charity Action Against Hunger is fighting to provide emergency relief, identifying the most urgent needs as food security, healthcare and mental health services, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene. Just £20 is enough to provide 20 emergency hot meals for Ukrainian refugees.

Sunflower of Peace

Boston-based Sunflower for Peace has been supporting Ukrainian paramedics and doctors by distributing first-aid backpacks, medicine and medical instruments. Over £3mn has been raised so far; the goal is to hit £5mn.

Razom

Meaning “together” in Ukrainian, Razom was founded off the back of the Revolution of Dignity, a series of protests in 2014 that culminated in the removal of former President Viktor Yanukovych. “Our work from the get-go has been to build a prosperous Ukraine,” says Dora Chomiak, who runs the charity with an almost all-female team of fellow Ukrainians, “and that’s what we’re continuing to do.” Working in tandem with volunteers in Ukraine and US, Razom has established a supply line of tactical first aid to those who need it, and a further stream of financial donations to “turn into medicine”. They’re also working with partner charities to provide support for those who have now fled the country. With the goalposts constantly shifting, Razom has set up a Linktree with different ways to do so – be it donations, volunteer work or protests – that’s updated daily.

Unicef

Unicef is fundraising to protect more than 7.5mn children at risk across the country. Among those calling for donations is Ukrainian chef and food writer Olia Hercules, who, alongside industry figures such as Alissa Timoshkina and Clerkenwell Boy, is urging the hospitality industry to raise funds through supper clubs, bake sales and special menu items. More than 50 restaurants have got involved to date – notable names include Soho House, St. John and Ottolenghi – and have raised around £200,000. Follow their progress with the hashtag #CookForUkraine. Meanwhile, Dutch jewellery designer Bibi van der Velden will be donating 100 per cent of proceeds from her Ukrainian Alligator (€5,240), an 18k gold earring embellished with blue topaz and yellow citrine. bibivandervelden.com

justgiving.com/fundraising/cookforukraine

Fight for Right

Among the people most vulnerable to attack in disaster zones are the disabled, particularly those with low mobility, for whom evacuation might not be an option. Fight for Right is tackling this with an emergency hotline, offering disabled Ukrainians advice, psychological support and, where possible, help with gathering supplies and the safe evacuation of those who need it.

Disasters Emergency Committee

Made up of 15 UK aid charities – including Save the Children, Age International and Action Against Hunger – the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) pools together vital resources to co-ordinate an effective response to overseas countries in crisis. For its Ukraine Appeal, the Committee is asking for donations of £30 (enough to provide three people with a month’s worth of essential hygiene supplies), £50 (blankets for four families) and £100 (emergency food for two families for one month).

The Red Cross

On top of providing resources and medicine, the chief aim of the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal is to support the work of its volunteers in Ukraine – 4,000 of whom are delivering food parcels, providing first aid training and helping emergency workers around the country. Supporting fundraisers include a blue and yellow 3 Timer Ukraine watch by Linde Werdelin (£5,500) and three Annoushka pendants from The Helping Hands collection (£350). All proceeds from both sales will go to charity.

lindewerdelin.com; annoushka.com

World Central Kitchen

More than 60mn meals have been served up by World Central Kitchen (WCK), a charity that feeds people affected by humanitarian, climate and community crises. Within hours of Russia’s invasion, the WCK had set up a food station at a pedestrian border crossing in Poland, offering nourishing hot meals to those fleeing the attack. Since then, kitchens have been established at seven more border crossings, and the charity is helping local restaurants prepare meals across five Ukrainian cities.

Choose Love

More than 2mn citizens have fled Ukraine since Putin’s invasion, most hoping to find refuge in neighbouring Hungary, Moldova and Slovakia. In response, refugee charity Choose Love has launched an international fundraiser to provide those displaced with medical care, food, shelter, clothes and legal aid, as well as support for the LGBTQIA+ community. Illustrator Charlie Mackesy is raising funds through a limited-edition T-shirt (£20), but support could be as simple as buying a pastry from London bakery Pophams, who are donating 50 per cent of plain croissant sales throughout March.

charliemackesy.com; pophamsbakery.com