By Lenore T. Adkins

From medicine to diapers to a place to stay, U.S. groups are on the front lines aiding Ukrainians fleeing from Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked, brutal war.

Americans have offered an outpouring of support for Ukraine as Europe endures one of its greatest refugee crises since World War II. The Russian military’s constant bombing of Ukrainian homes and communities has forced more than 3 million people to flee to neighboring countries and displaced another 6.5 million inside Ukraine, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Samaritan’s Purse is among many U.S. faith-based groups there to help. The organization, headquartered in Boone, North Carolina, operates a 24-hour medical clinic outside a train station near Lviv, Ukraine, and set up a 60-bed emergency field hospital nearby.

A Samaritan’s Purse medical staff member treats a patient at a medical stabilization point inside a train station in Lviv, Ukraine. (Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse)

A Samaritan’s Purse medical staff member treats a patient at a medical stabilization point inside a train station in Lviv, Ukraine. (Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse)

Outside of Ukraine, its mobile medical unit at a large stadium in Moldova hosts up to 1,000 Ukrainian refugees and has been seeing 50 patients daily.

The organization also has sent 91,000 kilograms of relief materials to Poland, including medical supplies, winter coats and blankets.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s evacuation efforts include these in Odesa, Ukraine. (Courtesy of JDC)

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s evacuation efforts include these in Odesa, Ukraine. (Courtesy of JDC)

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) said it has evacuated thousands of Jewish and non-Jewish refugees from Ukraine, securing their transportation, food, medical care and shelter.

“JDC will remain a lifeline to those who remain in Ukraine as well as those … in Poland who are fleeing their homes and seeking refuge,” JDC Chief Executive Officer Ariel Zwang said in a March 11 statement.

Supplies for Ukrainian refugees in Moldova surround Mehmet Demir, left, of Zakat Foundation. (Courtesy of Zakat Foundation)

Supplies for Ukrainian refugees in Moldova surround Mehmet Demir, left, of Zakat Foundation. (Courtesy of Zakat Foundation)

The Zakat Foundation of America, named for the Islamic pillar of giving, has teams along the Polish-Ukraine border delivering humanitarian relief essentials, such as diapers, snacks for children, women’s personal items and materials to build showers.

Christian charity Convoy of Hope has staff in seven countries near Ukraine to get food, water, shelter and other help to refugees. The Missouri-based group offers “baby care kits” or “hygiene kits” that contain soap, sanitary items, diapers, toiletries and other necessities for the millions of women and children escaping the war.

The faith-based organizations’ efforts supplement what U.S. companies are doing to support Ukraine. The U.S. government is the largest provider of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

Individuals donate expertise

In addition to faith-based groups, individual Americans are doing what they can to help Ukrainians.

  • Individuals, businesses and philanthropies have supported the humanitarian response though the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, a partnership of GoFundMe and the U.S. Department of State.
  • American actress Mila Kunis, born in Ukraine, raised more than $30 million in three weeks to support the people of Ukraine.
  • Two Harvard University students created Ukraine Take Shelter, a website that in the first week connected 4,000 Ukrainian refugees with safe places to stay around the world.
  • Polish American entrepreneur and Airbnb founder Brian Chesky is providing housing for 100,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine.
  • One in four Americans have donated money in response to the humanitarian emergency, according to a March 17 survey from Fidelity Charitable.

Banner image: People fleeing from Ukraine get soup in Poland from Convoy of Hope, one of many U.S. groups providing assistance. (© Jess Heugel/Convoy of Hope)