Want to help people in Ukraine? Greater Miami Jewish Federation sets up emergency fund
Only hours after Russia invaded Ukraine, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation launched an emergency fund to help support those impacted by the “unfolding humanitarian crisis.”
“The federation has a long and proud tradition of raising money in response to all kinds of natural and humanitarian disasters,” said Jacob Solomon, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. “There is no question that what is unfolding now in Ukraine is going to be a humanitarian disaster of epoch proportions.”
The United Nations said 227 civilians had been killed in Ukraine and 525 injured between Feb. 24, the date Russia invaded Ukraine, and March 1, the New York Times reported. The Ukrainian government had said there have been more than 2,000 civilian deaths.
Russia’s invasion is considered the largest in Europe since World War II.
While the federation is concerned with what is happening in Ukraine in general, Solomon said there is a large Jewish population in Ukraine.
“There are about 200,000 Jews currently living in Ukraine, and the history of the Jewish people in times of crisis is that there is inevitably a lethal increase in anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish incidents,” Solomon said. “So we have a special obligation to care for our extended family in Ukraine, and we are doing that by helping them to evacuate to Israel or to secure local community institutions providing critical welfare services and providing temporary housing for people who have been dislocated.”
So far, 40,000 of the 200,000 Ukrainian Jews — many of whom are elderly — have been helped by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s overseas partners: the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, The Jewish Agency for Israel and World ORT.
According to the federation, an additional $16 million will be needed for immediate help including evacuations and temporary housing.
The federation, which absorbs all administrative costs, says 100 percent of the donations help those in need in Ukraine.
To make a credit card contribution to the Ukraine Emergency Fund, visit http://www.JewishMiami.org/ukraine or mail a donation check payable to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation with the notation “Ukraine Emergency Fund” to Greater Miami Jewish Federation, 4200 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33137. For more information, call 305-576-4000.
Other resources to help Ukraine
▪ Ukrainians have put together a list of ways foreigners can get aid directly to civilians and soldiers on the ground. The four organizations are: Razom for Ukraine; United Help of Ukraine; Fundraiser for Sunflower of Peace and Revived Soldiers Ukraine.
▪ AT&T is offering consumer and business customers unlimited long distance calling from the U.S. to Ukraine beginning Saturday through March 7. Customers may still receive alerts during these dates, but accounts will reflect the credits and/or waived voice charges. For more information, visit go.att.com/ukraine.
This story was originally published March 3, 2022 at 6:24 PM.
