Ukraine crisis: Where and how to help from the Czech Republic

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the need for donations becomes even more urgent. There are many ways to give and also some important things to avoid.

A number of groups offering different types of local support, from providing humanitarian aid in Ukraine to helping refugees arriving in the Czech Republic, have sprung up in the week since the conflict started. Direct support for the Ukrainian military has also been established.

The Ukrainian Embassy and charitable organizations have also suggested some dos and don'ts for well-intentioned individuals who want to help out.

First, if you'd like to provide aid via money or goods, it's best to contribute through an organization that specializes in this area of help. While multiple drop-off points exist in Prague for goods, not all charities take certain items so always check in advance before showing up at a drop-off point.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Prague has advised against traveling to the border individually with clothing and food as the situation remains tense and added traffic and crowds could cause further complications.

The Czech Ministry of Health has provided guidelines on what is essential for medical care, and why it is best for individuals to offer help through official organizations.

As of March 1, aid packages can be sent free of charge to Ukraine via the Czech Post Office. Packages can be sent to a specific person or institution. Read more in our story. Unless you have a specific recipient in mind who you know can accept a package, it may be best to work through a charity.

The Ministry of Interior has set up a site for people who want to offer accommodations, hygiene items, or transportation.

A consortium of non-governmental agencies has set up a site where people can offer or look for help.

Prague City Hall has an online form for people who want to offer accommodation.

The NGO Uprchlíci vítejte (Refugees Welcome) has a site where people can offer accommodations or financial support.

The Scout Institute (Skautský institut) has finished its own collection drive but people can volunteer to help in other ways via their online form or help some of the organizations they have listed.

A Facebook group called Ukrainian refugees: Places to stay and jobs is also gathering together help and answering questions in English. It can the found here.

A site that matches up drivers with people who need rides from the border, Drive for Refugees, currently has many more volunteers than it needs. You can still register to help, but you should wait for confirmation before going.

The main group providing humanitarian aid is People in Need (Člověk v tísni). They have set up a fund called SOS Ukraine so funds will go directly to that cause. They have already delivered durable food, hygiene items, diapers, sleeping bags, mats, and other goods directly to locations in Ukraine.

Stojíme za Ukrajinou has a site in English, Czech, and Ukrainian with an extensive list of ways to help.

The platform Darujme.cz offers an easy way to find charities involved in the Ukraine crisis and donate to them.

The NGO Post Bellum is raising money for protective equipment and non-aggressive gear for people in Ukraine.

A page set up by the Ukrainian Embassy in Prague collects money to directly support the Ukrainian military with arms. Read more in our story.

You can help children by donating through UNICEF, which has a collection specifically for Ukraine.

Food, water, hygiene, and shelter are provided by Charita Česká republika (Caritas Czech republic. They have set up a page for one-time and continuing donations.

You can also support Charita Česká republika by buying transit stop signs from the Prague Public transit Company (DPP) fanshop. Five signs have been changed to blue and yellow to show support for Ukraine. Four are for stops named after Ukrainian locations – Krymská, Volyňská, Zborovská – plus Náměstí Míru, for peace. Read more here.  

The basic needs of refugees are addressed by ADRA, which is working with its partners in Ukraine. They are taking donations through the Darujme platform.

The NGO Nesehnutí has been in Ukraine since 2014 to support independent journalists, volunteers, environmentalists, human rights defenders, and others. You can support their work through the Daraujme platform.

The Salvation Army to aid people in Ukraine and refugees arriving in the Czech Republic. Donations for this cause can be made over the Darujme platform.

The Ukrainian Children Endowment Fund has been established to help children coming from the war zone continue their studies. You can contribute via their website.

You can add a donation to your virtual shopping cart at Košík.cz, and they will also add up to 25 percent more. Information on donating is here. The money or goods purchased with it will be directed to food banks, based on what they need the most. Read more in our story.

You can help support Ukrainian students and faculty at Charles University via the school's endowment fund. More information is on the university website.

The Food Bank for Prague and Central Bohemia is taking food donations at Toužimská 856, building C4, in Prague-Letňany on weekdays from 8 am to 1 pm. They also accept money through a transparent account listed on Facebook. Read more, including how to donate in other regions, in our original story.

The Ukrainian Embassy is asking for ballistic helmets; bulletproof vests; drones of any type; medicines; and sleeping bags, mats, and hygiene products for women and children at the border. A complete list is on Facebook. These items can be delivered to the House of National Minorities, Vocelova 3, Prague 2.  

Donate food, specific clothing item, bedding, electronics, and medical devices to Humanitarian Aid Ukraine. The dropoff point is at the former hairdresser at Smíchovské nádraží. Find the list of the specific items needed here. Other up-to-date information is on their Facebook page.

The Czech Red Cross is collecting clothes at all its regional centers. More details here.

Clothing for refugees is being collected by Šatník Praha. Clothing should be clean and undamaged, More information is on Facebook. They are located at Hall 13 in the Prague Market (Pražská tržnice), Bubenské nábřeží 306, Prague 7

The Single Mothers Club (Klub svobodných matek) is collecting medical supplies only. A list of what they are seeking and directions on how to donate are on Facebook. The collection point is at Dukelských hrdinů 34, Prague 7.

A map of collection points for aid packages has been created by the Telegram group Humanitarian Aid in Prague.

Pets are overlooked victims of conflict. You can support a dog shelter in Ukraine called Friend via the Czech charity Psí život, which is on the Darujme platform.

Svoboda zvířat is in contact with UAnimals, which supports animal shelters in Ukraine. You can support them via the Darujme platform.

The group Běhejme a pomáhejme útulkům (Let's Run to Help the Shelters), which is on the Darujme platform, helps over a dozen shelters in Ukraine,