From new clothes to jobs and kids sports: initiatives to help Ukrainians

Clothes in the Garderobe for Ukraine shop is free
Clothes in the Garderobe for Ukraine shop is free

Dozens of people have been getting in touch about initiatives they are organizing or are involved in to help people from Ukraine. Here’s a selection.

Garderobe for Ukraine
Organised by the Polish Library in Amsterdam, you can donate new and wearable second hand clothes, shoes, toys, food products, hygiene products, baby products and pet products for both Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands and in Poland. Donations can be made Friday and Saturday at Princes Irenestraat 59. Everything in the shop is offered for free.

Students organizing a sports event for Ukrainian children
Norwegian Gabriel Horvei and four other co-students are arranging sports events for Ukrainian refugee children coming to the Netherlands. They already have a deal with RFC Haarlem to host the first event there, in the beginning of May and are looking for more sports clubs and volunteers to join the initiative. More information on LinkedIn.

U Aid
U AID is a student-initiated NGO located in Amsterdam, collecting humanitarian aid to send to Ukraine. Donations can be made to the Student Hotel City in Amsterdam, including medicine, medical equipment, food, hygiene products, baby food and appliances, food for animals, and technical equipment (walkie talkies, lamps, optics). Find out more

Food sharing platform supporting Ukrainian cooks
Homecookd is a startup working with more than 10 local home chefs and with more than 500 customers in Amsterdam which has now expanded to include Ukrainian cooks. ‘We hope to help these and other Ukrainian refugees develop their own livelihood in their new host country,’ says Homecookd’s Pallav Jha. Find out more via Instagram.

Zeilen van Vrijheid
A self-organised group of volunteers who united their efforts for purchasing and delivering medical and other specialised cars to Ukraine, as well as medical and humanitarian aid. Read the Dutch News feature.

Hosting a family
Thousands of people have come forward to take in Ukrainians who have fled from their homes because of the Russian invasion and are hoping to settle in the Netherlands. Established operations like Takecarebnb are working flat out alongside new initiatives such as Room for Ukraine, Share My Home and Onderdak Oekraine. 
Find out more about the matching process.

Banking and cash matters
Banks and local authorities have also made arrangements for Ukrainians to open accounts and transfer money from abroad. The Dutch banking association NVB and payment services association Betaalvereniging Nederland have also set up a website with information and advice on how to use the system.

Useful information
Ukrainians in the Netherlands foundation (founded 2014)
Amsterdam city council information (English and Ukrainian)
The Hague city council information (Dutch and Ukrainian)
International Welcome Center North (English and Ukrainian)
Immigration service information (English)
Welcome to the Netherlands (www.refugeehelp.nl in English)

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