Here's how Wisconsin and beyond can help support Ukrainian people in need

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin may be thousands of miles away from Ukraine, but the impact of what's going on there is close to home for many in our state.

On Thursday, Russian troops launched an attack on Ukraine that started with explosions before dawn in the capital Kyiv and other cities. On Sunday, the assault reached Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv.

More than 200,000 people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, according to a USA Today report. U.N. officials believe up to 4 million people could leave if fighting continues.

Here's a running list of ways you can help Ukrainians in need, whether you're in Wisconsin or beyond.

If you know of a local fundraising effort, contact Hannah Kirby at hannah.kirby@jrn.com.

St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church

St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Milwaukee's Walker's Point neighborhood is collecting monetary donations through PayPal that will go toward humanitarian aid and medical supplies.

"Right now, our hospitals need a lot of medical supplies," said Oksana Ovod, who is in the church's sisterhood. "They need more right now."

The church will use the funds to purchase supplies that will be shipped to Ukraine, she said.

To donate, visit the church's PayPal page. For more information on the church, visit stmichaelsukr.org.

Door County Candle Co.

Door County Candle Co. is selling a "Ukraine Candle" with 100% of the profits from it going to the Razom for Ukraine organization.

"This special Ukraine candle is a way I feel we can make a difference and help those in need," Christiana (Gorchynsky) Trapani, the candle company's owner, said on the product's online listing.

In the listing, Trapani said she is 100% Ukrainian and is "incredibly proud" of her heritage.

"As a Ukrainian-American, what’s happening in Ukraine is hitting me, and many others, deeply to my core," she said on the webpage. "We strongly condemn Russia’s shameful and unprovoked war. We are heartbroken, concerned and scared for all of those in Ukraine."

The candle, which is 16 ounces and fragranced vanilla, costs $29.95. To purchase one, visit doorcountycandle.com/product/ukraine-candle.

Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. Catholic community's international humanitarian agency, is collecting donations for families in Ukraine. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is a longtime partner of CRS.

"CRS and our partners are preparing, and we need immediate support to meet both ongoing needs, as well as those related to families forced to flee their homes as the situation intensifies," the agency's donation page said.

Partners of CRS and Caritas in Ukraine and bordering countries work to provide safe shelter, hot meals, hygiene supplies, fuel for warmth, transport to safe areas, counseling support and more, according to the page.

To donate, visit support.crs.org/donate/donate-ukraine.

Polish Center of Wisconsin

Polish people are helping provide food, shelter, medical aid, information and clothing to people who have crossed the border from Ukraine to Poland to escape the conflict, according to Polish Center of Wisconsin's website.

The center has "a direct contact with people helping arrange help and boxes of needed supplies," the website said, and has launched a fundraising effort to send a monetary donation to them for these items.

"The funds raised will go directly to them to use, without any fees being assessed," the website said.

The center is not accepting physical item donations.

Monetary donations are being accepted via PayPal and credit card through the center's website, phea.memberclicks.net/poland-s-ukranian-assistance-fund. And they can also be sent to:

Polish Center of Wisconsin

Poland's Ukrainian Assistance Fund

6941 S. 68th St.

Franklin, WI 53132-8237

Green Bay Ukrainian-American community, Meest Chicago Shipping

The Green Bay Ukrainian-American community is partnering with Meest Chicago Shipping LLC — which has been shipping items to Ukraine for more than 20 years — to send humanitarian aid and basic military supplies there, according to a news release. The "Ukraine - Army & Humanitarian Relief Drive" runs through March 14.

People can purchase items from any source and have their donation sent directly to Meest Chicago, where it will be packaged and shipped with other donations, the news release said. Or people can purchase, package and send their items to Meest. People are to add a note to their purchase that says: "HELP UKRAINE."

The shipping address is:

MEEST CHICAGO SHIPPING

HELP UKRAINE

820 Ridge Ave. UNIT J

Chicago, IL 60148

People can also drop their purchased items off at:

Cornerstone Mortgage: 1494 Mid Valley Drive, De Pere from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cornerstone Mortgage is also accepting cash donations and will match those up to $3,000.
St. Matthew Orthodox Church: 607 Ravenswood Drive, Green Bay from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m. to noon Thursday; 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Relyco, Inc.: 1195 Schering Road, De Pere from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The donated items will be trucked by a volunteer from Green Bay to Chicago. Meest will then fly the donations to Poland, truck them into Lviv and distribute them to Ukrainian relief organizations, the news release said.

Here's a donation item list for humanitarian relief:

Non-perishable food (big demand)
Clothes and footwear for men/women/children
Thermal underwear
Hygiene products (women’s products, diapers, etc.)
Blankets
Bedding
Disposable tableware
First aid/first aid kits
Tents, mattresses and sleeping bags
Standalone lamps
Candles
Containers for liquid (canisters for water, fuel, etc. with a capacity of 10-to-20 liters)
Protective military gear, such as, helmets, bulletproof vests, tactical backpacks and dry rations (Make sure it's not prohibited by the USA for Ukraine’s military).

And a donation item list for Ukraine’s military:

MediTac IFAK Molle- Trauma kit feat (black)
Power banks
Goggles Lanterns
Optical sight (Leupold)
Balaclava (ROCKBROS, Carhartt, AstroAI, FanVince)
Gauze sponges
Gauze bandage rolls
Grabber warmers
Large ice pack for injuries
Hand warmers
Hot Hands toe, hand and body warmers
Coyote knee protector pads
Emergency burn care gel
Mckesson Xeroform petrolatum dressings 4-by-4 square gauze
Thermal underwear (sizes medium, large and extra-large)
Trekking socks (size 9 to 13)
Push-button phones
Knee pads (Bodyprox, NoCry, Sellstrom)
Walkie-talkies (any Samcom, Motorola, Midland)
T-shirts / leggings
Fleece zip up hoodies
Bottoms (Under Armour, Bodtek, Rocky, Meetyoo)
Gloves (Under Armour, Hot Shot, Carhartt, Manzella)
Tracking boots (Mammut, Nortiv, Camel Crown, Hi-Tec)
Thermal socks (Hoot Feet, Bymore, Cozia)
Emergency thermal blankets
Arm sling
Antiseptic wound gel
Antiseptic wipes
Powder free gloves (size large)
Blood pressure machines
Face shield masks
Elastic bandage wraps
Neck support brace
Clear plastic storage containers with durable snapping clear lids
Mechanix Wear: Tactical work gloves (size large, black)
Outdoor hiking shoes for men
Merrell Tactical waterproof boots
Self-adhesive bandage wraps
Tactical fleece cap/winter warm beanies
Camping sleeping bags
Cold-weather sleeping bags
Night vision goggles
Digital night vision binocular

More:Milwaukee area businesses are seeing a huge increase in sales for the Ukrainian flag amid the Russian invasion

National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located in Milwaukee, has unveiled a bobblehead of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

From every $30 Zelenskyy bobblehead that's sold, $5 will be donated to GlobalGiving’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, according to the museum's website.

"Zelenskyy has become a face of defiance and a symbol of strength in the midst of Russia’s invasion," the museum's website said. "He has been called a hero by many at home and abroad as he refuses to leave the nation’s capital in Kyiv while Russian forces continue to attack the country."

Since this is a pre-sale, these bobbleheads aren't expected to ship until July 2022.

For more information or to order the bobblehead, visit bit.ly/ukrainebobble.

Crossroads Collective

For the week starting March 28, all proceeds from the sale of two menu items at Crossroads Collective, the food hall at 2238 N. Farwell Ave. in Milwaukee, will go to help Ukrainians.

The two items are the Hope Float, a ginger beer float drink from The Pharmacy MKE, and Boris' Pickle Platter from Ruta's Vibrant Indian Café.

Proceeds will be donated to World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit run by celebrity chef José Andrés that is providing Ukrainian refugees meals at border crossings and in 12 cities within Ukraine.

TownsvilleArt

TownsvilleArt, founded and owned by Josh Seubert of Milwaukee, is selling a special-edition print that features the state of Wisconsin made up of collaged iconic Milwaukee landmarks in the colors of the Ukraine Flag.

All proceeds from the "Milwaukee Wisconsin Ukraine Flag Art Print" will go to Save the Children, the product's listing said.

A variety of print sizes are available, as well as matting and framing options. Prices range from $25 for an 8-by-10 loose print to $175 for a 16-by-20 print that's framed with a mat.

For more information or to make a purchase, visit townsvilleart.com/product-page/milwaukee-wisconsin-ukraine-flag-art-print.

GoFundMe Ukraine Humanitarian Fund

GoFundMe is organizing its own fundraiser: the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund. The money will be distributed to "verified nonprofit organizations supporting vulnerable communities to obtain access to shelter, food, medical services, education, and psychosocial support, as well as other people impacted," the fundraising page said.

The platform is working with partners, including the U.S. Department of State and GlobalGiving to "identify organizations that are providing effective relief to those impacted."

To make a contribution, visit gofundme.com/f/ukraine-humanitarian-fund.

GlobalGiving

People can also give directly to GlobalGiving's Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.

"GlobalGiving's local partners are bringing relief to terrified and displaced communities, and they need resources to continue their life-saving work," the fund's page said.

The money will be used for refugees' shelter, food, clean water, health and psychosocial support, access to education, economic assistance and more, according to the fund's page.

To donate, visit globalgiving.org/projects/ukraine-crisis-relief-fund.

Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross and Ukrainian Red Cross Society support food-producing initiatives and infrastructure repair (including water-pumping stations), as well as rebuilding damaged homes, and providing aid to hospitals, schools, mental health facilities and community centers, according to a USA Today report.

For more information or to donate, visit icrc.org/en/where-we-work/europe-central-asia/ukraine.

Army SOS

The Army SOS Citizen’s Initiative manages purchases of "necessary ammunition, shields, intercommunication and reconnaissance facilities, uniforms and food supply," according to a USA Today report.

“We deliver all goods directly to the unit’s emplacement and pass them right to the hands of our warriors,” the group's website said.

For more information or to donate, visit armysos.com.ua/en.

United Help Ukraine

The United Help Ukraine nonprofit organization receives and distributes donations, food and medical supplies to displaced Ukrainians “affected by Russia’s invasion," per a USA Today report.

The charity’s fundraising efforts help wounded Ukrainian soldiers and families of wounded and killed soldiers.

For more information or to donate via PayPal, visit unitedhelpukraine.org.

Revived Soldiers Ukraine

Donations through the Revived Soldiers Ukraine nonprofit assist severely injured soldiers by supporting medical help and rehabilitation; treat hospital patients wounded in conflict by supplying emergency medical aid and supplies; and satisfy housing needs to soldiers of Ukraine and their families, among other efforts, according to a USA Today report.

To contribute to its PayPal, visit bit.ly/soldiersdonate.

Voices of Children

Voices of Children is a charitable foundation that helps children affected by war. The group provides psychological and psychosocial support to children “to help them overcome the consequences of armed conflict," according to a USA Today report.

Donations, which can be made with a credit card or Google Pay account, go toward art therapy, psychologists to help children in boarding schools, family therapy and more.

For more information or to make a donation, visit voices.org.ua/en.

Come Back Alive Foundation

The Kyiv-based Come Back Alive Foundation, one of the largest charities in Ukraine, primarily fundraises for Ukraine’s military, to aid soldiers and volunteers with supplies, including equipment (thermographic cameras and night vision devices), drones, personal body protection and specialized software, according to a USA Today report.

The nongovernmental organization also supports training, psychological assistance, medical help and other projects.

To contribute from abroad, the charity accepts secure money transfers, crypto donations (Bitcoin), and an option to contribute via monthly Patreon membership (in one of three options), the USA Today report said.

For more information on ways to donate, visit savelife.in.ua/en/donate.

USA Today contributed to this report.

Contact Hannah Kirby at hannah.kirby@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HannahHopeKirby.