All of us have been touched by the tragic stories coming out of Ukraine. It is heartbreaking to watch the daily horror stories we now see. News of the maternity hospital bombing in Mariupol last week is especially appalling. As of March 13, an estimated 85 children have been killed with 100 more wounded. According to the United Nations there have been 1,600 civilian casualties. The numbers are undoubtedly much higher, and these numbers do not include Ukrainian soldiers injured and killed defending their homeland. About 2.8 million of the 44 million Ukrainians have fled their country since the war began, and many of those remaining are displaced and without shelter.
Our hearts go out to the Ukrainians, but most of us do not know how to help. We are 5,500 miles away, and very few of us know anyone living there. Many of us want to do something, but what can we do? Here are some suggestions:
Find a reputable charity helping Ukrainians. For example, donate to the Red Cross for Ukraine at www.redcross.org/donate/cm/abc.html. My church is Southern Baptist and there are over 2,800 Baptist churches in Ukraine. To help Ukraine through the SBC donate at, www.imb.org/ukraine. If you are Catholic, donate to Catholic Relief services at, www.support.crs.org/donate/donate-ukraine. If you prefer to give to a non-denominational Christian organization, consider Samaritan’s Purse, you can donate at, www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/ukraine-response.
