Josh's Ukraine Giving Fund

Ukraine Giving Fund

Hello / привіт,

I'm Josh and I'm heading to Ukraine from April til the end of June. While there I will be participating in volunteer activities ranging from packaging and transporting supplies and food to remote villages, making care kits for soldiers, working at animal shelters, and anything else they let me help with.

Some of you may know that I went to Ukraine in 2008 when I was a teenager. While there I traveled with a group to different schools in Kyiv and talked to students about the harms of alcohol and drugs. This may sound silly, but drinking and smoking was quite common among young people in Ukraine and so this was an effort to curb self-harming behaviors and show kids that they have worth. Needless to say, it made a permanent impression on me and changed my life.

When putin invaded in 2014, my heart burned with anger while the world continued on. When putin launched the full-scale invasion in February 2022, the world started to pay attention as Ukrainians continue to courageously fight back.

After two years of feeling helpless to do more, I can't sit with that feeling any longer. I've been feeling called to go back and do what I can with my whole body and spirit.

I'll be paying my own way for this trip. My flights, train, accommodations, and food are all at my own expense. You're in no way subsidizing my trip to Ukraine.

I know many people that feel the same so this GoFundMe is your opportunity to channel your hope into action.

The money will be used to support grassroots (non-military, non-combat) organizations that I work with and encounter while in Ukraine.

Many of these groups don't have the capacity to run international campaigns or easily receive money from non-European banks, but they do some of the most effective direct support for Ukrainians in critical need.

Some organizations I'll be working with are:

Some examples of ways the money will be spent:

Throughout this time, I'll be updating you with exactly how the money is spent so that you can see the impact that only a few Canadian or US dollars can make. You'll be told exactly how much was used, for what, to whom, and a photo or two (if appropriate).

Currently my itinerary has me starting in Lviv, where I'll be connecting with several charities and orgs in and around the city. I intend to spend at least one to two months there as it is a major hub for volunteering and is relatively safe.

I also plan to see Ivano-Frankivsk, Odesa, and other regions to explore more Ukrainian culture and volunteer.

The final leg of the journey in June will be spent in Kyiv where more volunteer opportunities await.

I plan to be back in Canada in late June.

Let me finish with a call to action to support Ukraine through official channels with UNITED24, where you can make a financial donation to directly support specific initiatives from defense, demining, medical aid, rebuilding efforts, and education.

Donating in this way is the best way for North Americans to help Ukraine, so please do not let supporting me displace any funding towards UNITED24.

Lastly, I encourage you to call your Member of Parliament and express your support for Ukraine and the importance of Canada standing beside - not behind - our Ukrainian friends and allies.

If supporting financially isn't possible, that's okay! I sincerely appreciate your well wishes, prayers, and emotional support.

Thank you / дякую,

Josh