{"id":12941,"date":"2022-03-24T09:00:51","date_gmt":"2022-03-24T09:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.foresters.com\/?p=12941"},"modified":"2022-07-26T23:44:21","modified_gmt":"2022-07-26T23:44:21","slug":"supporting-the-people-of-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.foresters.com\/en-gb\/community-en-gb\/supporting-the-people-of-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Supporting the people of Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are all aware of the war in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing violence. When we see things like this happening and know that people are suffering, the natural urge is to want to do something\u2014anything<\/em>\u2014to help. But it\u2019s often difficult to know what to do.<\/p>\n

With Foresters Financial you can help.<\/p>\n

Foresters Community Volunteer grant<\/a> is a benefit that members can use in situations like these. Typically, members use grant funds to support local not-for-profit organisations or registered charities that are important to them. You might organise activities such as a food drive for a local food bank, create and deliver hygiene kits to homeless shelters, or arrange a back-to-school supply drive.<\/p>\n

But did you know that you can also use grant funds to kick off a fundraiser?<\/p>\n

To help the people of Ukraine, some local community groups are collecting donations like clothing, baby items and medical supplies, but there is also an urgent call to send financial donations. This allows relief organisations to send aid to those in need quickly without having to wait for shipments or spending time sorting through donated items. Financial help can also be used for relocation assistance, including transportation, lodging and airfare for those fleeing the country; as well as facilitating war-zone evacuation procedures.<\/p>\n

Your grant in action<\/strong><\/p>\n

With the help of a Community Volunteer grant, you can organise a fundraiser like the ones suggested below to raise donation money for relief organisations who are helping those in Ukraine or in other parts of the world that require assistance:<\/p>\n

Community bake sale<\/strong>. Check out Hub<\/a> for a list of bake sale tips and tricks to help you plan and execute a successful and delicious fundraiser. Allrecipes<\/a> also has some great tips as well as recipes for bake-sale best sellers like carrot cupcakes, whoopie pies and deep-dish brownies.<\/p>\n

Raffle<\/strong>. You can host an in-person raffle with items donated by friends, family members and organisations you\u2019ve contacted or host a virtual experience with the help of an online raffle-hosting \u00a0platform that can do a lot of the organisational legwork for you. Non-Profit Quarterly<\/a> also has some helpful information about donating prizes, enlisting volunteers and selling tickets. Just make sure that you check the rules and regulations for operating a raffle where you live so that you don\u2019t violate any anti-gambling laws.<\/p>\n

Community garage sale or rummage sale<\/strong>. We all have stuff we no longer need or use. What better way to get rid of it than to band together with like-minded friends and neighbours to sell unwanted items<\/a>? You can create a community garage sale with the intent of donating the proceeds of your sale to a good cause! Fundraiser Help<\/a> has great ideas that will help you raise more funds with fewer headaches along the way.<\/p>\n

Potluck<\/strong>. We all love to eat, but galas can be pricey. Why not organise a charity potluck instead? Admission to the feast is a dish of your choice plus a donation to the fundraiser, which can be a set amount or a \u201cgive what you can\u201d option. This is a very accessible way to engage a lot of people, and it creates a sense of community while raising funds. Visit Compassionate Action for Animals<\/a> to learn how they organise their annual Thanksgiving potluck.<\/p>\n

Your Foresters grant money can help to cover the costs of a venue, any necessary rentals, advertising, supplies, prizes, or whatever else you need to get your fundraiser up and running.<\/p>\n

To find out more about our Community Volunteer grants and to apply today, visit MyForesters.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Choosing a reputable charity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Promoting the charity you\u2019ve chosen is important, as it helps your supporters get behind the cause and understand how their money is going to help.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s also critical to choose a reputable charity. Unfortunately, there are people who will take advantage of situations like the war in Ukraine to cheat others out of money. People Magazine<\/a> has some suggestions for how to ensure that funds you\u2019re collecting for the people of Ukraine are going to a reputable charity that can provide the kind of urgent help that\u2019s needed right now:<\/p>\n