Edith/Maddie here, trying to feel hopeful.
Caution: Today’s post is a diversion from writing-related topics – sort of.
We are living in somber times. A war resulting from a brutal invasion is waging in Europe. Many Ukrainians and Russians are suffering, and I know I’m not alone in feeling at a loss to understand what we can do to help.
I’m here to suggest a few ways.
Kensington Publishing opened an auction on Friday to raise money for Ukraine relief, with many authors and publishing professionals contributing. It runs until March 24.
The Wicked Authors as a group have two donations: a set of signed books, and a Zoom cocktail (or tea) hour. Barb has signed ARCs up there, and I have a jigsaw puzzle as well as a foodie-cozy-and-apron donation. The Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen blog also donated a bundle of recipe cards. All proceeds will go to Direct Relief, who is working closely with Ukraine’s Ministry of Health. Start exploring the auction here: https://www.32auctions.com/benefitforukraine
Authors for Ukraine is another charity auction that’s coming up. Maddie and I have donations there, too, along with many dozens of other authors. Proceeds from that auction will go to CARE’s Ukraine Crisis Fund. The Authors for Ukraine auction starts on March 29 and closes on April 12, and I hope you’ll check out the hundreds of items on offer.
Yevgeniy M, a US military physician friend of my son who was born in Ukraine and now serves in Texas, is collecting certain medical supplies to send. If you have access to that and would like to contact Yev, please write to me at edith@edithmaxwell.com.
I’m a long-time Quaker, and our Meeting has been in touch with the Quakers of Kyiv. Many around the world have held them in prayer and sent messages, and the Ukrainians have been so touched. We have also heard stories of non-violent resistance by those under siege, with Ukrainians removing highway and street signs so their GPS-less invaders get hopelessly lost, for example.
And then there are solidarity actions any of us can do. Standing in peace vigils. Adding gold and blue to profile pictures or to your lamppost. Oh, and baking cakes. I wanted to bake a cake last week. I had sour cream in the fridge and looked up Ukrainian desserts. Poppyseed cake, full of sour cream and butter, appears to be a typical dessert in the region. (It was delicious.)
And if you need a small bright spot of hope, here are baby pre-daffodils just up in my garden next to the relentlessly cheerful dancing frogs.
Readers: List your suggestions for how to help – or how to keep your spirits up.
Kudos to the Kensington authors, including the Wickeds, for donating items for the auction.
Besides donating to the Canadian Red Cross fund (donations matched by the Government of Canada up to $10M), I am showing support for Ukraine (and local) downtown Ottawa businesses that were shut down for a month by the Freedom Convoy protests earlier this year.
Moulin de Provence KD is a French-style bakery located a few blocks from Parliament Hill. The owners are Ukrainian. 100% of bread sales in March will be donated to Ukrainian humanitarian assistance.
http://moulindeprovencekd.ca/
I’m also supporting Ottawa Ukrainian church drives selling homemade products such as perogies, and adding sunflowers or gold/blue to my social media profile pages.
UPDATE: I just got an email that one of the online FM I order my winter produce from (Beechwood Market) has fundraised $825 for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.
I wish I had a Ukrainian bakery to buy from!
Thanks for sharing this, Edith!
Of course.
My church diocese did a second collection for relief. And we remember Ukraine the the Prayers of the Faithful every week.
They can use all the prayers, Liz.
Thanks for the info, Edith. In a bit of uplifting news, this past weekend, Lachlan Morton, a professional bike racer for the US-based EF Education Team, rode his bike from Berlin to the Ukraine border, over 1,000 kilometers, to raise funds to help displaced Ukrainians. The effort raised over $200,000 dollars.
That’s awesome, Jim.
Thank you for sharing this, Edith. I plan to bid on the auctions and have been offering prayers for the Ukraine. The stories become more horrific every day.
I know, Kait. It’s so sad. And awful for all the Russians being punished – or jailed – for Putin’s horrific decisions.
Thank you for giving us some ways to help. I’m praying every day. <3 Not only for those involved directly, but for us all. After all this is a world situation and there but by the grace of God we all will walk.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Exactly, Kay.
Beyond the horrible news, I am reminded of the Ukranians daily in that we have several gifts (that are always on display) from Ukraine that were given to us when exchange students were living in our former town. And we take a small Ukrainian flag with us to display at functions we go to.
It’s so sad. Even 20 years ago, the incredibly nice people we spent time with were still so scared. They didn’t want to say too much about the political situation 10 years after the breakup of the USSR because they were afraid of spies. And we were in our own private car on the other side of the world from Ukraine. What a horrible way to have to live.
How wonderful you have faces to put to the name of the country. I pray they are staying safe.