Students Can Help Ukraine

By: Mckenzie Gerdes

Ukrainians and President Zelenskyy have stood their ground and defended against Russia’s military attacks. However, many Ukrainians are suffering greatly, and need any help that we can offer. Here are some ways that Oregon college students can show support.

Journalist Lizzie Acker of The Oregonian compiled a list of organizations and companies in the Portland area that are working to help Ukrainians in need. The list includes Medical Teams International, a global health and humanitarian organization that takes donations in order to send much-needed medical supplies to countries around the world.

Ukrainian hospitals recently received 26 pallets of mixed medical supplies from Medical Teams International. Medical Teams has been sending supplies to Ukraine since 2015 through a partnership with the Ukrainian American Cultural Association of Oregon and SW Washington, another organization that is helping in this time of great need.

A t-shirt line co-created by local attorney Pouya Ahmadi and local company Portland Ink shows support for Ukraine with its powerful designs, and all proceeds from purchases go to Project Hope, another organization shipping medical supplies to Ukraine.

KEEN Garage, a Portland-based shoe company, is sending over $160,000 to the GlobalGiving Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund in order to help Ukrainian refugees fleeing to various borders, as well as donating footwear and gear in co-efforts with other athletic companies.

Portland baker Sonya Michelle Sanford is selling batches of hamantashen in partnership with Hamantashen for Ukraine, an organization that brings bakers together and donates profits to Ukrainian refugees. These donations go to the Polish Humanitarian Action, which focuses on aiding refugees at the Polish border.

Photo courtesy: @sonyamichellesanford on Instagram

Ukrainian Bible Church in Fairview, OR, is sending the outpouring of donations from church members and non-church members to organizations they have partnered with, including churches working on the ground in Ukraine. The organizations that receive the church's donations will buy supplies in neighboring countries and send them to people still in Ukraine.

Empact Northwest, a non-profit, non-governmental organization that provides support to countries after disasters have struck, currently has a response team in Poland, and is looking for more support though volunteer work or donations.

Rallies are another way to bring attention to the war. The Ukrainians in Oregon facebook page regularly posts information about rallies and fundraisers happening in the area.