Ways to support Ukraine, refugees & those helping them (please share info & links)

[airgelaal]

Hard to say. My mom probably wouldn't understand. But she knows who to get the answer from I think that even if someone does not understand, there will always be someone who will explain.

 

[sk8pics]

Hard to say. My mom probably wouldn't understand. But she knows who to get the answer from I think that even if someone does not understand, there will always be someone who will explain.

I heard the other day that all the Ukrainians who will be receiving our cards speak English, and that if anyone writes anything in Ukrainian they will be “wow!”. I wrote it all in English and then some in Ukrainian with the Ukrainian alphabet and some in Ukrainian with the English alphabet. We have 30 cards so far and there are 30 staffers. More are coming. I’m so happy to be able to do this small thing.

 

[Alilou]

It's comparatively a small thing, but it may help with general morale for Ukrainian skaters/athletes.
See my new post in the ISU Statement on Russia's war against Ukraine thread (comment #2055)
It's an email that can be used to send to ISU council members to encourage them to uphold the ban of Russian and Belarusian skaters.

 

[Vagabond]

This is specifically for people in the United States:

Save Lives by Giving Food

Join me in helping save lives by giving food. Make a difference today by donating to the World Food Program USA.

secure.wfpusa.org

Anyone interested in donating to the U.N. World Program but not in the United States can find more information here.

 

[reut]

Ten ways to help rescue missions in Kherson region:

https://twitter.com/TimothyDSnyder/status/1667154187786887169

 

[sk8pics]

I learned today about an organization that pairs up volunteers with Ukrainians to help them learn or improve their English. The link is enginprogram.org.

I heard about it from someone I was hiking with this evening. He said he’s been doing it for 9 months or so. Looks like a very worthwhile program. I filled out an application and have an interview scheduled.

 

[Sylvia]

Looks like a very worthwhile program. I filled out an application and have an interview scheduled.

Link to click:

ENGin | Online Volunteering

ENGin is a nonprofit organization changing the world one conversation at a time to provide international support for English learners. We connect English-speaking volunteers online with motivated students for online speaking practice and cross-cultural exchange.

www.enginprogram.org

@sk8pics did you already have your interview?

 

[sk8pics]

Link to click:

ENGin | Online Volunteering

ENGin is a nonprofit organization changing the world one conversation at a time to provide international support for English learners. We connect English-speaking volunteers online with motivated students for online speaking practice and cross-cultural exchange.

www.enginprogram.org

@sk8pics did you already have your interview?

Yes! I had my interview and am partway through the training. There are two training sessions that you can do live on zoom or by a recording. Each is about 45 minutes long. Then there's a quiz, a self assessment, and then you get assigned your "buddy." I have my second training session next Sunday. There were around a dozen of us in the first session. I've been taking my time because I really don't want to start until October, and I don't want to keep my buddy waiting so long once we're paired up.

There's also a Facebook group for volunteers with lots and lots of helpful information and suggestions. Plus local chapters forming, and it looks like there may be one or two near me, so that's cool, too.

So the process is: 1. Fill out an application 2. Schedule an interview on zoom 3. Do the training sessions 4. Take a quiz. 5. Do the self assessment 6. Get paired up.

 

[sk8pics]

I had my second and last training for the tutoring volunteer gig above. I need to really look things over and get myself organized. Then I’ll do the quiz and initial self-assessment. The person who did the second training session advised me to wait until I come back from my short vacation next week so that I don’t get matched with someone and then have to delay starting our sessions. By the time that happens, my account will probably be deactivated for inactivity, which has already happened once. But the support people are actually pretty quick.

 

[Vagabond]

Rare book donations sought for auction to help Ukraine booksellers

Organisers are also seeking artworks and manuscripts while authors are invited to donate signed first-edition copies of their books for an online auction in November

www.theguardian.com

The auction will take place online in mid-November. “We want this sale to happen before the winter so that we can help colleagues make it through what is going to be a tough couple of months”, added Fournier. “This war has been going on for nearly two years and we know that winter is absolutely brutal for civilians.”

The call for submissions is open until 10 October. Those interested in contributing to the sale are asked to send images of up to 10 items to [email protected].

 

[sk8pics]

Finished all my training for tutoring. Now I wait for a match…

 

[sk8pics]

I’ve been matched with a woman who is a few years younger than me and lives in Kyiv for tutoring in English. Our first session is next Tuesday! I had asked for someone who was intermediate to advanced in English, but they told me she is a beginner. Hopefully it works okay.

 

[sk8pics]

My Ukrainian “buddy” and I have had several email exchanges and I think she is more than a beginner, unless she is laboring for hours and hours in her replies. I see a few sentence structure problems but that’s fine. I’m really looking forward to meeting her on Tuesday!

 

[Jot the Dot Dot]

World Vision International World Vision has had a long relationship with Stars On Ice, with Joannie Rochette and Kaitlyn Weaver, among others, being spokespeople for it. And they do have a separate venue for people to donate towards victims of the war.

 

[sk8pics]

I met with my Ukrainian buddy today and she is definitely at a low level for spoken English, but we managed. She also met Bradley and that sparked a lot of questions and conversation.

Sadly, her son has been missing for more than a year.

 

[sk8pics]

Two lessons in and my student is doing well. We talked about Bradley today and about the weather. We also watched a short cartoon about a mouse who is a princess and then she summarized it for me and asked me a couple of questions. She is very motivated and eager to learn, which is nice.

 

[Vagabond]

IFAKs for Ukraine (Individual First Aid Kits) Urgent Need - Operation White Stork

White Stork is a Non Profit providing IFAK (Individual First Aid Kits) & more to support the civilian populations and non-lethal military aid to the frontlines in Ukraine. Donate Today!

whitestork.us

We are a US veteran led non-profit organization delivering life saving medical kits and critical humanitarian aid to Ukraine in frontline areas.

Our team is on the ground in the Ukraine, so your donation has an immediate impact. There are no middle men, no international aid depots. Your gift goes straight to those in need.

 

[Frau Muller]

Funding to Ukraine being cut by US. Praying for Ukraine’s strength with other sources.

White House warns it is âout of money and nearly out of timeâ to aid Ukraine

Government has already gone through $111bn in military aid for Ukraine and urges Congress to approve additional funding

www.theguardian.com

 

[skipaway]

Thanks to MTG

 

[sk8pics]

I don’t get it @skipaway. I get how the hat would now be a nice fundraiser but I don’t get what she was thinking.

BTW, if anyone wants to help, I’m still tutoring with ENGin. I meet with my student/buddy once a week and we chat for an hour. She loves Bradley!

 

[MacMadame]

I don’t get it @skipaway. I get how the hat would now be a nice fundraiser but I don’t get what she was thinking.

She is saying we are giving money to Ukraine that we should be keeping in the US.

 

[sk8pics]

So I’ve been tutoring a Ukrainian woman in English for a year now, through ENGin: ENGin

I now have my second student! And I’ll continue to meet with my original “buddy” even though she’ll now be considered an alum. I don’t think her English is good enough to tutor others, but she’s made a lot of improvement.

Please consider volunteering! They have a lot of students waiting to be matched with volunteers. It’s easy and rewarding.

Oh, and Bradley especially loves it because he sits on my lap or next to me for the whole conversation. He’s going to be really happy when I start with my second student, because they’re going to be back to back calls. My first buddy loves Bradley and frequently comments on his behavior during our conversations.