As the war in Ukraine continues, people around the world want to reach out and help those whose lives have been turned upside down by the Russian occupation.
In an attempt to get money straight into the pockets of Ukrainians, people have found innovative ways to help.
But with so many causes and charities to choose from, it can be hard to know if donations are actually reaching those who need them most.
Here are some of the inspiring ways people have helped so far, and the facts to find out if they’re actually helping:
Book an Airbnb without showing up
The idea of paying for an Airbnb in Ukraine and then not showing up seems to have been dreamed up by Twitter user Quentin Quarantino who claims to be “doing memes on Instagram and raising money for charitable causes”.
Within 24 hours of post the idea on Twitterhundreds of people were booking Airbnbs in Ukraine in an effort to “send immediate financial aid to people in hard-hit areas”.
Another Twitter user, @BurkeyShark, also shared the response she received after booking through Airbnb.
How useful are Airbnb reservations in Ukraine?
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has scrapped all booking fees for Ukrainian homes, to ensure the company doesn’t take advantage of people’s donations and that all money goes directly to people who have them need.
If you’re considering donating this way, make sure you’re absolutely sure the host is genuine. As now that the donation method has attracted worldwide media attention, it is possible for people to create fake accounts.
To avoid potential scammers, it is also possible to simply send a cash donation through the airbnb website, with all funds going towards emergency housing in Ukraine. A decision that received support from celebrities like Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis.
Donate airline miles
Some generous people donated their airline miles. Hundreds of thousands of air miles donated by a American couple from North Carolina helped a Ukrainian woman and her children flee the country. They were able to fly to the United States to stay with her sisters thanks to the donation. “It’s incredible, I have no words to explain it to you. It’s amazing that we are all together, our whole family is in one place. Now I can sleep,” the mother told Live 5 news.
United Airlines and its partners are also accepting cash and airline mile donations to help those on the ground in Ukraine and they also match all donations.
The charity Miles4Migrants also accepts donations of airline miles to help refugees and asylum seekers affected by other global conflicts.
How useful is donating airline miles to Ukraine?
Many airlines have had airline mile donation programs in place for years, making them a popular way to give to charity, especially if you’re short on cash but rich in points.
If you are donating through a specific airline – this Life hacker article collect some of them with Ukrainian donation programs – then your money will not go to flights for individuals, but it will go to charities helping people on the ground. Charities you can donate to through United Airlines include Airlink Flight, a disaster relief organization, and Americares, which sends emergency responders to disaster areas around the world.
Most airlines require a minimum donation of 1,000 points although there is no upper limit.
Etsy gives money directly to people
Online marketplaces like Trouva and Etsy are another unique way for people to try and get money for local people. These sites allow artists around the world to sell products they’ve made — from jewelry and cotton face masks to t-shirts and art prints.
Olena Shevtsova, a Ukrainian weaver who usually makes scarves and belts, put her skills to use in the making camouflage netting to help protect Ukrainian troops. To support her, buyers bought her patterns online. This way, Shevtsova has nothing to send but still receives the money.
Downloadable illustrations and fonts are also proving popular, and many sellers have pledged to donate all proceeds to the Ukrainian relief effort.
If you would like to help in this way, simply search for Ukraine-based sellers through the Etsy website.
Will buying things through Etsy really help Ukrainians?
If you don’t have a lot of money to give, buying things through Etsy might seem like a great way to help local people, but you’re unlikely to help those who need it the most. According to this research, in January 2021, more than 30% of Ukrainians did not have access to the Internet. Which means you’re unlikely to hit some of the most vulnerable people in Ukraine via downloadable patterns on Etsy.
Many Etsy artists donate their money to local charities, so if you still want to donate this way, the huffpost have compiled a list of Ukrainian sellers from which you can download items.
Buying things that can be downloaded is the best way to help, as arranging shipping will not be possible for many Ukrainians at this time.
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