How to Help Individuals in Ukraine

As a country, Ukraine needs the help of others. They receive support through donations, governmental aid, and other local and international organizations.

There are many beneficial organizations that help Ukrainians; both those who are staying in the country and those who are fleeing abroad. These include UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Save the Children, UN Refugee Agency, International Medical Corps, and many more. If you would like to read more about such organizations, NPR has created an exhaustive list on the subject.

These organizations are extremely important and crucial for the safety of the country and Ukrainian individuals. However, sometimes it still feels like you want to help more; how can you support people who are oceans away?

With this, I found that Etsy may actually be just the place to do that.

Etsy

Etsy has always been the hub for creative individuals and small business owners to sell their products on. With technology, craftsmanship has been decreasing for quite a long time, and as an e-commerce company, Etsy focuses on these handmade or niche markets, in a way reclaiming the craftsmanship that we once had.

Now, during this war, buying products from Ukrainian Etsy sellers can be a great way to show support and help individuals and families who need it.

Below, you will see a list of some sellers to look at.

Wedding Gifts + Accessories

First, there’s the shop WAGbohemianchic, owned by Elena, who is located in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, and specializes in beautiful handmade wedding decor. Take a look at the detailed set that Elena and their team creates.

Elena is also running a campaign through her Etsy to support their team of workers during the war, where she is selling PDF digital downloads. Many other creators are doing similar postings as a means for donations to support their workers and their business. Elena mentions on the listing,

“Hi everyone, I am Elena. My husband and I have been selling handmade wedding sets at Etsy for 6 years. More than 5,000 customers have chosen us. You have probably heard about the terrible time in Ukraine. It is difficult for every citizen of Ukraine now. We will be grateful for every response. In our store, 22 people work on your wedding sets. This is their main job. Due to the war, it is difficult for us to work now, we ask you to support our entire team so that we can exist and make our future clients happy. You can buy one of three products in my store that will help my team get through this difficult time…”

Suncatchers

Another creator, VenusGlassArt, located in Kyiv City is selling pre-orders of their stained glass hummingbird.

With this purchase, $5 from each bird will be forwarded to Ukraine people and their team. The remaining profit will be used to reinstate their small handmade business after the war is over.

Although this is a pre-order, they are guaranteeing to ship the product 14 days after the war is over when they will be able to make deliveries.

Recipes

Looking for a way to spend a slow Sunday? LeVanilleShop, also located in Kyiv City, sells digital downloads of culinary recipes, many inspired by Ukrainian cuisine.

Take a look at their Ukrainian cheese pancakes that are simple to make but delicious. The instructions also include special tips and tricks for cooking from Ukrainian chefs.

There is an abundance of recipes on their page like Ukrainian turkey rissoles, cherry brownies, cottage cheese donuts, and more.

Jewelry

If you are a jewelry wearer or need a fun gift, the shop KoloPtahy in Lviv is selling its handcrafted items. They have found it possible to send orders through national mail where it will take 2 weeks to ship. Each product is handcrafted from various woods and painted with acrylic.

There are many other similar creators and business owners on Etsy that can be found with a simple search ranging from people selling items like handmade ceramic watercolor palettes to crocheted stuffed animals.

Although this may seem like a fun way to support a country, it really can make a difference to someone whose life has just been uprooted or needs help to sustain their business in the meantime. So when donating to the cause, consider this option in mind too!