Where to give to help Ukraine

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger continues to urge Catholics to support emergency relief for Ukraine as the humanitarian crisis grows as people flee to escape Russian bombing and shelling. Here are ways you can help:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is working with its partner, Caritas Ukraine, to respond. Use this link to help: bit.ly/3hbagDJ .

The Knights of Columbus launched the Ukraine Solidarity Fund, and donations can be made at kofc.org/secure/en/donate/ukraine.html. On Feb. 25, the Knights of Columbus announced a commitment of $1 million for immediate distribution to support Ukrainian refugees and will match all funds raised up to an additional $500,000. The relief funding will be used to provide shelter, food, medical supplies, clothing and religious goods, as well as other humanitarian needs as identified, both directly in Ukraine and through refugee sites in Poland.

The Diocesan Investment and Loan Trust (DILT) — a separate entity from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany — has invited individuals, Catholic parishes and other faith-based groups to take part in a Christian challenge to support relief efforts. The DILT, which has already donated $50,000 to Ukrainian humanitarian relief, will match further donations up to $50,000. To participate in the challenge, checks should be made payable to Catholic Charities and sent to their offices at 40 N. Main Ave., Albany, 12203. “Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief” should be written in the memo line of the check. Catholic Charities will forward the donations to CRS, with DILT matching those donations up to $50,000.

The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia also has a link: ukrarcheparchy.us/donate.

Two pontifical agencies also are taking donations for Ukraine: Catholic Near East Welfare Association, cnewa.org/campaigns/ukraine/, and Aid to the Church in Need, www.churchinneed.org/.

Donations can also be made to Jesuit Refugee Service at www.jrsusa.org to support the agency’s work in Europe “to accompany, serve, and advocate for those forced to flee from war and conflict.”

The U.S. Bishops’ Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe designated its annual collection, taken in most diocesan parishes on Ash Wednesday, to support Ukraine and the surrounding region as a result of Russia’s invasion. It offers two ways to give: electronically, through iGiveCatholicTogether: https://usccb.igivecatholictogether.org/organizations/usccb-church-in-central-and-eastern-europe; or by mail, with an address here: https://www.usccb.org/committees/church-central-eastern-europe/how-give.

The Salesians also are accepting donations to help refugees: salesianmissions.org/lp/ukraine-emergency/.

The International Catholic Migration Commission has set up an emergency appeal for Ukraine, with a donation link at https://www.icmc.net/donate-ukraine/.

AVSI-USA also is collecting for partners helping with Ukrainian refugees: https://donorbox.org/helpukraine-1.