Which charities are the best for supporting Ukraine?

[PropertyProblems]

Does anyone know which charities are currently supporting the people in Ukraine?

I’m going to donate straight to the country of Ukraine using that new bank acc they opened, but it is a great idea to also donate to Polish charities that will be helping refugees. I hadn’t thought of that!

...

Choose Love

UNICEF has aunched an emergency appeal:

www.unicef.org.uk/donate/donate-now-to-protect-children-in-ukraine/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4OHWr_qf9gIVirHtCh3RNQKMEAMYASAAEgKCHvD_BwE

I was wondering about the sudden profusion of collections (clothes, sleeping bags, camping stuff, hygiene things etc) I'm seeing in our local community and on social media. I'm always a little sceptical about these collections for lots of reasons: people often send dirty, broken or very old things that then have to be filtered out of the drops and discarded (costs extra in terms of time and disposal); it surely must be more economical to send money to have these things purchased closer to the destination; I'm often a bit unsure how efficient the smaller collections will be in terms of actually getting the stuff out there...

but of course a lot of people prefer this sort of giving as it feels more immediate and heartfelt. I do get that. And of course, with nearly half a million Ukrainians now having left the country, perhaps there will be significant shortages of warm clothing, blankets, sleeping bags etc in the places they're reaching.

So my question is - is it worthwhile for me to go out and buy some cheap but effective new clothing/stuff and take it to one of the many collection points locally, or should I be spending the money on donating to a big aid organisation?

I wouid donate cash to an organisation you believe is doing good work, so they can spend it on what their priorities currently are.

Or respond to specific appeals for specific things.

Guessing what they might most, then someone having to pay to send it doesn't strike me as the best use of resources

I was wondering about the sudden profusion of collections (clothes, sleeping bags, camping stuff, hygiene things etc) I'm seeing in our local community and on social media. I'm always a little sceptical about these collections for lots of reasons: people often send dirty, broken or very old things that then have to be filtered out of the drops and discarded (costs extra in terms of time and disposal); it surely must be more economical to send money to have these things purchased closer to the destination; I'm often a bit unsure how efficient the smaller collections will be in terms of actually getting the stuff out there...
I can answer this as I am doing one of those. The issue at the moment (on the Ukrainian side of the border, where queues are now up to 24-48 hours) is that there's very limited supply on the ground. Fleeing people do have their own money on them, there's nowhere they can buy stuff. The EU side is much better provisioned and organised, but to get to the EU side, you need to get through the border now.

We have a number of local collections happening, but I am holding back as they’re asking for pet food and dog bowls as well as childrens coats and sleeping bags,
Would like to donate supplies for people, but with the greatest respect I don’t think they should be collecting and transporting goods for animals.

I will be donating, but in cash to a charity.

@GlomOfNit

I was wondering about the sudden profusion of collections (clothes, sleeping bags, camping stuff, hygiene things etc) I'm seeing in our local community and on social media. I'm always a little sceptical about these collections for lots of reasons: people often send dirty, broken or very old things that then have to be filtered out of the drops and discarded (costs extra in terms of time and disposal); it surely must be more economical to send money to have these things purchased closer to the destination; I'm often a bit unsure how efficient the smaller collections will be in terms of actually getting the stuff out there...

but of course a lot of people prefer this sort of giving as it feels more immediate and heartfelt. I do get that. And of course, with nearly half a million Ukrainians now having left the country, perhaps there will be significant shortages of warm clothing, blankets, sleeping bags etc in the places they're reaching.

So my question is - is it worthwhile for me to go out and buy some cheap but effective new clothing/stuff and take it to one of the many collection points locally, or should I be spending the money on donating to a big aid organisation?

Definitely give money, the local volunteer groups on the ground (ie the Red Cross) can assess what's needed and not have to put scarce resources into sifting through what isn't. Well intentioned, but unneeded physical donations can hinder not help disasters.

[quote RoseAndRose]UNICEF has aunched an emergency appeal:

www.unicef.org.uk/donate/donate-now-to-protect-children-in-ukraine/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4OHWr_qf9gIVirHtCh3RNQKMEAMYASAAEgKCHvD_BwE[/quote]
Just done to this one.

I've donated to Red Cross, after researching i felt it needed to be an already established 'on the ground' charity.. there seems a lot of newly set up groups elsewhere who are still working out the logistics.

What worries me are the materialistic collections can get to the borders but not into the actual cities of Ukraine, so money would be more beneficial.

I know its unpopular on MN, but id like to donate to an animal charity too, many people are taking their family pets with them, so they are clearly important to them and their children.
I've been contacted by PETA who have a set up in Germany, but any other ideas/links anyone?

I'd like to donate to help refugees with animals too.

OK, in case my post remains hidden, I said that I have donated to a couple of crowdfunders raising money for the Kyiv Independent newspaper and for a collection of independent media.

I believe that a free press is essential to freedom and hopefully they will help to keep morale raised as well.

@TheBooBoo

The Association of Ukranians in Great Britain (AUGB) are raising funds for aid on Gofundme

#helpUkraine Emergency Appeal

www.augb.co.uk

I am unsure how to do clicky links sorry

I've donated to the AUGB, as my employer suggested this or the Red Cross.

Sorry, meant to add the AUGB go fund me link:

www.gofundme.com/f/helpukraine

www.withukraine.org/

This is the fund set up by the Ukranian embassy. It will help with the war effort. If you want to help Ukraine, give the money to them directly. They don't just need humanitarian aid. They need money to fight to live as a free country. If you admire their bravery in fighting, give them the money to help them fight.

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said donating money through the Ukrainian Embassy in the UK was one way of helping. The embassy has set up a special fund called With Ukraine for people to send funds via PayPal or bank transfers. The money will be spent on providing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population and to purchase medical and military supplies for Ukraine's army, the embassy said
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60562260

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) have launched a fundraising appeal today:

www.dec.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal

This is a fundraising umbrella for several UK charities (eg Red Cross, Oxfam, Save The Children) who launch these joint fundraising appeals after major international disasters.

The UK Government will match donations up to a maximum of £20 million.