Disaster Relief
Working with local groups, Woodlands provides assistance when disaster strikes. Our assistance takes the form of both physical help and financial help – physical help as we gave in the years following Hurricane Katrina when we sent groups down south to help rebuilding, and financial help as we gave to provide emergency assistance to folks in Puerto Rico.
TURKISH/SYRIAN EARTHQUAKE
Please support the families of our Peace Islands Institute friends whose lives have been affected by the disastrous earthquake in Turkey. Donate to Embrace Relief to help meet the urgent needs of the victims and support rebuilding efforts. Other ways to help Turkish and Syrian earthquake victims: Collect medical/rehab supplies and bring them to Yonkers-based Afya or volunteer to sort supplies.
UKRAINIAN CRISIS
We, and the world, are shocked and heartbroken as we witness the crisis in Ukraine. Some of us are worried about family and friends living there. Many of us have familial ties to the area, our ancestors having immigrated not too long ago. Yet it does not take a personal connection to fear for the people whose lives and livelihoods are now in jeopardy. In addition to praying for their safety, here are a few organizations through which your donations and other efforts can provide concrete help:
Yonkers-based AFYA works with US-Ukraine-Foundation and others to support the Ukrainian medical community and refugees seeking aid by preparing wound care, surgical equipment and biomedical equipment to be shipped. Funds are needed as well as donations of supplies and folks to pack the supplies. Consider using AFYA's Amazon Wishlist to provide items for critically needed trauma kits.
Razom was founded in 2014, the start of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, through the efforts of Ukrainian-Americans to help Ukraine. In the current catastrophic emergency, Razom is providing critical medical supplies and amplifying the voices of Ukrainians. Their website provides various opportunities to help – advocating, donating, educating.
Even before the immediate crisis began, JDC was addressing the needs of Ukraine’s poorest Jews. Now they are continuing to provide essentials like food and medicine, coordinating and handling displaced persons including arranging transportation and accommodations, and coordinating emergency response with other agencies on the ground.
The international Reform Jewish community, represented by the World Union for Progressive Judaism and the European Union for Progressive Judaism, have set up this fund to ensure safety of the Ukrainian Jewish population, assisting with food, warmth, shelter, security, medical attention, and mental health support while establishing a Jewish refugee center in Poland to welcome families fleeing Ukraine.
Funds will be used to help those affected by the armed conflict – blood collection, mobilization of volunteers and resources, and emergency activities.
Working at pedestrian crossings from Ukraine into Poland as well as inside Ukraine, Chef Jose Andres is feeding fleeing Ukrainians.
SAVE THE CHILDREN UKRAINE CRISIS RELIEF FUND
Funds provide children and families with immediate aid, such as food, water, hygiene kits, psychosocial support and cash assistance.
Thousands of Ukrainians are seeking refuge in Moldova. IsraAID is providing psychological first aid and distributing essential relief supplies. IsraAID is an international non-governmental humanitarian aid organization based in Israel.