Here’s what we can do to help people in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees coming to Poland
Online grocery shopping for the Polish Red Cross warehouse
The products that are needed for Ukraine and for Ukrainian refugees in Poland change and will change in the coming weeks and months. The Polish Red Cross, in cooperation with the online store (applauding for the sponsor of this aid platform – online grocery store: https://koszyk365.pl), have created an online store where you can buy products for Ukrainians.
The process is simple and similar to shopping in an online store. Go to the website: www.razemdlaukrainy.pl (available in English and Polish), select products from the list (food, cosmetics, etc.) and make payment. All purchased products will be transported to the Polish Red Cross warehouse, from where they will be then handed over by the Polish Red Cross to those in need.
Where to make an online money donation
Making a donation might seem like a drop in the bucket, but it’s a good place to start. Below are some local Polish and Ukrainian organizations working to help Ukrainians.
Polish Humanitarian Action (Polska Akcja Humanitarna – PAH) is one of the largest Polish NGOs, carrying out support projects in Ukraine since 2014. They give aid to the people of Ukraine who have to flee their homes and their volunteers are now working at Polish-Ukrainian border crossings (they distribute food, hot drinks, hygienic articles, diapers, blankets; provide information, help in finding transport to Poland). Website in English, Facebook.
You can support these activities by making an online donation here: https://www.siepomaga.pl/pah-ukraina.
Polish Red Cross (Polski Czerwony Krzyż – PCK). Within five days of the beginning of the war, over 1,600 people were taken care of by rescuers and volunteers of the Polish Red Cross.
Payments to help Ukraine organized by the Polish Red Cross can be made to the account: 16 1160 2202 0000 0002 7718 3060, transfer entitled “UKRAINE”. IBAN: PL16 1160 2202 0000 0002 7718 3060. BIC/S.W.I.F.T.: BIGBPLPWXXX. Transfer entitled “UKRAINE”. Details in Polish.
‘Donate a classroom’ local Warsaw initiative – volunteers needed!
Please visit this open Facebook group in English to learn more about the ‘Donate a classroom’ local Warsaw initiative to support Ukrainian refugee children in Warsaw with education (the project is run by Pines Forest School). Volunteers needed!
Collection points set for donations for Ukrainian refugees
To help speed up distribution, it is recommended to note what is included in your donations.
Polish Red Cross (Polski Czerwony Krzyż – PCK) has collection points across Poland. They collect food with a long shelf life (e.g. canned food, oil, sugar, pasta, flour, groats, rice, tea, coffee, sweets, UHT milk, canned vegetables/fruit, dried fruit, nuts), drugstore items (e.g. shower gels, shampoos, soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, barrier creams, pads, diapers), medical dressings (especially for cuts and burns), NEW blankets and sleeping bags. Please note they do NOT collect clothes. More in Polish about the collection. The list of collection points in Poland.
Uber offers free rides for those who want to go to the Polish Red Cross collection points. Use the special code to get the collection point (details in English, including the list of codes).