Updated 3:56 p.m., April 28, 2022If you’ve been looking for ways to support the people of Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion but aren’t sure how to make an impact, here are some good places to start.
On Feb. 28, the Arlington County Board announced a resolution in support of Arlington’s sister city in Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivsk—which has enjoyed a decade-long relationship with Arlington and was struck by missiles in a recent assault on its airport. In early March, the Arlington Sister City Association (ASCA) released a list of recommended organizations accepting donations for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Here are those nonprofits, as well as several local businesses getting involved in fundraising efforts.
Razom
Meaning “together” in Ukrainian, Razom is providing humanitarian aid that includes medical supplies for the nation’s hospitals.
Nova Ukraine
The nonprofit provides medical supplies for soldiers, as well as food and other necessities for civilians.
Ukrainian National Women’s League of America
Based in New York, UNWLA supports Ukraine through humanitarian aid, social-welfare projects, cultural programs and education initiatives.
International Rescue Committee
The IRC is one of the primary organizations helping resettle Ukrainian refugees in the United States.
World Central Kitchen
The humanitarian organization founded by D.C. chef José Andrés is feeding refugees at Ukraine’s border with Poland, serving more than 37,000 meals to date.
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A growing number of local businesses and organizations are also supporting Ukraine with fundraising:
United Help Ukraine Show at Synetic Theater
On April 29, attend a benefit performance of The Servant of Two Masters and selections from Lyrica Classic’s Prayer for Peace. All proceeds will support United Help Ukraine, a nonprofit providing medical supplies to the nation’s armed forces and humanitarian aid to Ukrainians who have been displaced by the Russian invasion.
Synetic’s co-founders, Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili, left their native Georgia amid the fall of the Soviet Union.
Shop Made in VA
The Community Spoon-Ukraine
Bayou Bakery chef and RAMMY Good Neighbor Award winner David Guas forged The Community Spoon in 2021 to provide food to Afghan refugees; now he is extending a hand to Ukrainian refugees, raising funds to support food assistance (alongside Andres and chef Marc Murphy) along the country’s border with Poland.
Past campaigns and events:
Northern Virginia Clothing Drive
Starting March 23, the Northern Virginia Regional Commission will launch a clothing drive for Ukrainian refugees, with drop-off locations in Arlington, Falls Church, McLean, Alexandria and other local jurisdictions. New and gently used coats, as well as new socks, gloves and blankets, are requested. Donations should be made by April 15.
Northside Social Fundraiser
From 3-6 p.m. on March 27, ASCA joined forces with Northside Social to host an afternoon of beer, food and live Ukrainian folk music at the cafe’s Arlington location. The venue donated a portion of proceeds to World Central Kitchen and the International Red Cross. ASCA is also promoting donations to Let Ukraine Win, a volunteer organization based in Ivano-Frankivsk that sprang up just days after the Russian invasion.
#ChefsForUkraine Fundraising Dinner
Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate (co-founded by Lucky Danger‘s Tim Ma and Hot Lola’s Kevin Tien) worked with a dozen D.C.-area chefs to host a ten-course dinner at Moon Rabbit in D.C. on March 21. All revenue from the meal, which cost $500 a seat, with an optional $200 wine pairing, supported World Central Kitchen’s relief efforts in Ukraine.
Taco Bamba
On March 16, this taco emporium (with a Ballston storefront among its several locations) donated a portion of proceeds to the World Central Kitchen relief efforts in Ukraine.
One More Page Books
The Arlington independent book shop donated 10% of its sales during the first week of March to World Central Kitchen relief efforts, raising more than $1300.
Sparrow Room
The weekend of March 5-6, the new speakeasy-style dim sum restaurant in Westpost participated in an emergency bake sale from Bakers Against Racism, a fundraising operation founded by three D.C. pastry chefs that’s billed as “unofficially the world’s largest bake sale raising over $2.5 million for social justice causes worldwide.” Sparrow Room donated a portion of proceeds from its char siu bao to Red Cross Ukraine.
This list will continually be updated. Got a local business or organization we should add? Tell us at editorial@arlingtonmagazine.com.