helping Ukraine

All of Ukraine is a war zone. You can enter but you must understand the risk. Russia can and has sent missles all over the country including Lviv. The only way to go is by train. I doubt your rental car company will let you drive it into Ukraine. And your return out of Ukraine will be three less seats available for Ukrainians trying to flee.

In my opinion, the best thing you can do to help the refugees is send money to aid organizations who are set up to do the job.

My first thought was “ who informed them that this was the best way to help Ukrainians?”

It may be one way to show support , but I question whether it is the best way.

There continue to be many reputable relief organizations with direct actions and networks to provide real assistance in the most efficient manner.

The trip may be worthwhile for your daughters to feel like they are “doing something.” There is value in that. However, donation to relief efforts continues to be “the best way” to help for most of us.

Honestly, the best way to help refugees is by volunteering in your local community at a refugee resettlement office. Where do you live in the US? I’m happy to share appropriate links.

As someone who works in the refugee field, I would add that short term, untrained volunteers coming from foreign countries are really challenging to deal with. Industry standards require background checks, proper training and lots of policy signing in non-emergency situations (we are a year in now, the situation is maturing, unfortunately). This amount of front end work really diminishes the return of a 7 hour volunteer.

The best option would be to just travel around Poland and spend money in the local economy. By supporting the Polish tourism economy you are helping prop up a number of seasonal jobs that Ukrainian refugees work in.

My twin daughters who love doing service and humanitarian projects were just informed the best way they could help Ukraine would be to train ride into Lviv (4 hours one way) from Warsaw and just spend some money there.

Not a good idea, firstly Ukraine is still an active warzone, including Lviv. The Russians are using hypersonic missiles that easily and regularly reach western Ukraine, you would be putting you and your family at serious risk. Second, there is currently a very delicate logistics and supply operation going on at the Polish Ukrainian border, I would not rely on the 4hr train estimate.

I understand the sentiments. And while it is possible to go to Lviv and spend money (people are going in and out every day), I also doubt that it’s the best way for two teenagers to help. The odds are that going in and out would not be eventful, but your travel (and car) insurance would no doubt be invalid in Ukraine (mine is) should something happen. Just things to know.

I could put you in touch with an organization that connects Ukrainian families in need in Kyiv (from cities that have been bombed out) with people in the U.S. who want to help in a more personal way. If you do persist in wanting to go in person, I can give you an organization near Lviv that could tell you what supplies are needed that you could take and get them distributed, as opposed to just randomly spending money there.

But spending money in Poland is good also, as they have taken on a huge task. And if using Uber in Warsaw, you may have the opportunity to tip a Ukrainian driver big.

Here is the current US State Department advisory on Ukraine. Do you really want to go there?

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/ukraine-travel-advisory.html

I found the recommendation to leave DNA samples with your family to very enlightening.

There is no direct train from Warsaw to Lviv. You have to go Warsaw > Kraków, Kraków >Przemysl (where you change trains), Przemysl > Lviv. The travel time is probably more like 7 hours - and that would depend on what is going on at the Polish-Ukrainian border. There was a missile strike last week very close to Lviv, 4 people were killed. There are air raid warnings in Lviv almost every day, which means going to a bomb shelter. There is also still a curfew. You don't say how old your twins are, but as other people have said, there are very good ways to help Ukraine and the refugees without putting yourself at risk.

If your daughters are old enough, they can do some research to find exactly how they would like to help - many choices exist - helping children, saving animals, providing combat gear and hygiene essentials for the women soldiers at the front, etc., etc. As mentioned by others they can also donate to help the refugees in Poland.

You can also help the Ukrainian economy by buying from businesses in Ukraine - I've been doing this on a regular basis and things arrive amazingly quickly. You can buy jewelry, clothing, books - take a look at dodosocks.com for the cutest socks ever. Or oksana-boriychuk.com.ua for absolutely gorgeous jewelry.

After Ukraine's victory you can visit and see not just Lviv but the rest of this beautiful country,
Слава Україні! Героям Слава!

I appreciate all the feedback! My daughters are 29 so definitely not teenagers or young girls. They've been to Zambia, and Vietnam on humanitarian trips. But I am in full agreement with you all- that going over the border doesn't seem like the wisest choice right now. Lviv looked beautiful and I hope one day we can go and visit Ukraine. I would welcome any links to any organizations who might fall into this "helping Ukraine" category. The person who told my daughter about going to Lviv, is a CEO of a non profit organization (helping the Ukraine effort) who is going to Lviv about 3 times a month from the AZ region (which is where we're at) He indicated that with many of the organizations a lot of the funds get eaten up by high salaries to the administrators. Thus, not a lot of the funds make it to the relief effort. So, that's where he was coming from in his recommendation. I do think we will see what we can do from Poland. Thank you again!

Doctors Without Borders
Samaritan’s Purse
World Central Kitchen

You can probably find one out of these that matches you and your interests. Financial reports are readily available on web.

If you know a guy who goes so frequently, why not give him the money to distribute?

What Carol now retired said. I know Americans who were in Lviv and it was traumatic for them. Honestly, the Ukrainians don't need random foreigners wandering around in Lviv.

I see that you live in Arizona. I would suggest that you contact IRC (the International Rescue Committee) which has offices in Tuscon and Phoenix. These IRC offices receive and resettle refugees from around the world, including Ukrainians. 87% of IRC's funding goes to program services.

https://www.rescue.org/united-states/tucson-az
https://www.rescue.org/united-states/phoenix-az

Those are all great suggestion and insights! Thank you all!

Lviv bombed again yesterday, this time with Russian Kamikaze drones.