How to help Ukraine right now with charities on the ground

How to Help Ukraine Right Now*

In the first large European war in Ukraine in decades- the invasion intensifies every hour. The harm and damage it is doing to the people of Ukraine – is not only saddening; it will cause harm for many years to come. According to a recent statement sent out Tuesday, March 1st, UNICEF’s new Executive Director Catherine M. Russell shared, “We are receiving reports of hospitals, schools, water and sanitation facilities and orphanages under fire. Explosive weapons in populated areas and explosive remnants of war are real and present dangers for the children of Ukraine.” Russell also shared what many of us have been hearing in the news, “Children have been killed. Children have been wounded. And children are being profoundly traumatized by the violence all around them.”

Here are charities currently on the ground in Ukraine helping the people of this country with immediate aid.

Catholic Relief Service

CRS and their partner Caritas Ukraine are asking for donation in order to continue and provide more support as the Ukraine. Pre crisis Caritas Ukraine humanitarian assistance for Ukraine has been in the form of clothing, footwear and other necessary items to hundreds of people a week in Ukraine. Currently they are on the ground providing the Ukrainian people with warm blankets, food, supplies and some toys.

CARE

Care is a global leader striving to end worldwide poverty. Currently, their focus is on Ukraine, where they are asking for donations to reach 4 million with immediate relief.

They are dedicated to helping with aid, recovery, food, water, hygiene kits, psychosocial support, and cash assistance. They are prioritizing women and girls, families, and the elderly. Donate here.

International Committee of Red Cross

Presently, the ICRS is working with the Ukrainian Red Cross Society with essential support for the Ukrainian people. Some emergency assistance they are providing are vital needs like food and water. They are also helping hospitals with medical equipment, repairing water stations, and supporting separated families. Donate here.

UNICEF

UNICEF is working on getting safe water to conflict-affected areas and providing health support via hygiene and emergency education supplies as close as possible to communities near the line of contact. They are also working with municipalities to secure immediate help for children and families in need. UNICEF-supported mobile teams are also providing psychosocial care to support traumatized children. UNICEF needs $ 66.4 million to provide access to essential services, including water and sanitation, immunization and health care, schooling and learning, psychosocial support, and emergency cash assistance for up to 7.5 million children. Donate Here

World Central Kitchen

This is one unique organization founded by Spanish-American chef José Andrés. WCK TEAM and volunteers (like firefighters!) are currently serving meals in the south of Poland near the Ukrainian border, where they are working with the city to provide hot meals to refugees crossing. Donate here or start a donation campaign for WCK.

Save the Children

Save the children is currently focusing on the 7.5 million children in Ukraine who are in danger. They are providing children and families with immediate support in food, water, hygiene kits, psychosocial support, and cash assistance. Donate here.

*we will be adding to this list as the crisis intensifies

Psst…check out The New Omicron Variant BA.2 (what you need to know as NYC Plans to Drop Mask and Vaccine Mandates)

The Gillen Brewer School

Together, we see the possibilities &ndash; and together, we will help your child make meaningful strides forward. That&rsquo;s the Gillen Brewer difference: an integrated, academic-therapeutic approach combined with a school-home partnership that supports and celebrates your child&rsquo;s complex learning needs. Since 1992, Gillen Brewer has used a collaborative approach between teachers and therapists to provide differentiated instruction and seamlessly integrated therapies to help children with a broad range of language-based learning disabilities grow into students who are: Proud of their progress as they become determined, lifelong learners who advocate for themselves and take on new and greater academic challenges. Excited to explore their interests and the broader opportunities created for them within the school and surrounding community. Prepared to engage with the world with the self-confidence and independence gained from learning and thriving among trusted teachers, therapists, classmates, and families. In our safe and vibrant learning environment on the Upper East Side of New York City, students in Preschool-Grade 8 enjoy an authentic school experience &ndash; filled with social connections, field trips, and school traditions &ndash; while benefiting from year-round programming that offers academics, arts, physical education, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, and social groups. Gillen Brewer School is not only for students. It is a supportive and uplifting community for the entire family. Together, we can navigate your child&rsquo;s future &ndash; with care, respect, and unwavering optimism. Come see the possibilities with us.

Advantage Care Health Centers

<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #434343; background-color: #ffffff; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Advantage Care now offers in-person and Tele-Health services to all new and current patients through their secure online platform visit: <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://advantagecare.doxy.me/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #434343; background-color: #ffffff; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://advantagecare.doxy.me</a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #434343; background-color: #ffffff; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to see how it works.&nbsp; Tele-Health Services for Children and Adults include the Following: Primary Care, Psychotherapy, Psychiatry.&nbsp; Advantage Care continues to take proper measures to keep their patients, community, and staff safe during the pandemic. Advantage Care Health Centers are Long Island&rsquo;s premier Federally Qualified Health Centers. They accept Medicaid, Medicaid Managed Care Plans, Medicare. The mission of their centers is to provide the highest quality comprehensive primary, dental, mental, and behavioral health care services.&nbsp; They offer these services to all members of the community with a commitment to those who might otherwise be excluded from the health care system, while remaining cost-effective and efficient. Advantage Care specializes in providing services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Enabling Devices

Enabling Devices is a family-run business that designs, manufactures and sells adapted toys and accessible devices that make life more joyful and fulfilling for children and adults living with disabilities. &nbsp; It started with a train set, a mercury switch, and a young boy whose therapist thought he couldn&rsquo;t play with toys. In 1975 our founder, Dr. Steven Kanor, walked into a room at United Cerebral Palsy/Long Island and saw a boy sitting in a wheelchair, his head resting on his shoulder. When he asked where the toys were, the OT said, &ldquo;He doesn&rsquo;t have the motor skills to play with toys, and he can&rsquo;t lift his head.&rdquo; But Dr. Kanor was not interested in what the boy couldn&rsquo;t do. He was interested in the boy's potential. The next morning, he was back. He&rsquo;d brought a train set, which he&rsquo;d connected to a mercury switch. The switch, the first capability switch he&rsquo;d designed, was attached to the boy&rsquo;s ear. When the boy raised his head, the switch made contact and the train ran around the tracks. After several weeks of playing with this toy, the boy was holding his head up straight, even when the train was not running. Dr. Kanor was elated. Since that day, he never stopped innovating, never stopped trying to make our products better, never stopped designing new devices. Today, our design team is just as passionate, just as creative, and just as committed to innovation as the man who founded this company. Enabling Devices is the place to find toys, devices and tools that help build more joyful, fulfilling lives. We have an extensive selection of adapted toys, capability switches, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, adapted electronics, mounts, iPad products, sensory items and products for the visually impaired. Over the years, the important constants remain. We&rsquo;re still the same small, family-run company Steven Kanor founded in 1978, with the same values of personal connection and deep product knowledge. We&rsquo;re still committed to providing caring, individualized service to each customer. And we&rsquo;re still grateful for the privilege of sharing in your journey.

How to Help Ukraine Right Now