In response to the deepening humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, The Rotary Foundation has created an official channel for donors around the world to contribute funds to support the relief efforts underway by Rotary districts and has designated its Disaster Response Fund as the main avenue for contributions.

To this end, The Rotary Foundation has approved:

In addition to support provided through the Disaster Response Fund, the Foundation is coordinating with partners and regional leaders, exploring effective solutions to the increased humanitarian needs.

More than 2 million people have fled Ukraine and are in dire need of emergency aid. The United Nations estimates that number could grow to as many as 5 million people displaced. Rotary clubs in Europe and around the world have stepped up their relief work, some working on the ground to help displaced families.

We will continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Visit My Rotary and follow Rotary on social media to stay updated on how clubs can get involved and what actions Rotary members have taken and the impact it has had for people in the region.

For all other questions and to obtain more information, please contact the Rotary Support Center at rotarysupportcenter@rotary.org.

Funds can be mailed directly to Rotary International, 14280 Collection Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693. To verify the address, any questions can be directed to the Rotary Support Center. Ph # 1 (866) 976-8279.  Your Rotary club can send a donation in the name of the club. The attached forms need to be filled out by the club.

District 6650 is in the process of committing $25,000 from our District Designated Funds for the Ukraine Disaster Relief effort.

    Rotarians in District 6650 continued to partner with Operation Warm for a 10^th year providing coats to children, and adults throughout our District!  In spite of the lingering effects of the pandemic, our District partners raised $45,504 to purchase 2,616 coats!   District partners include the Rotary Clubs of Youngstown, Cortland, Columbiana, Canfield, Brookfield, Orrville, Dover, Austintown, Poland, Girard/Liberty, Steubenville, and for the 4^th year, Victory Christian Center’s Boardman, Liberty, New Castle and Warren campuses.  It was a very challenging campaign due to worldwide shortages and extended shipping and transportation delivery issues.

     Youngstown Rotarian, Debbie Esbenshade (DG2013-14) introduced this project to Division 1(a) clubs in 2012 and since it’s inception, our D6650 campaigns have raised roughly $490,000 and provided 25,200 coats and has been supported by all District Governor’s since then.

Besides the direct benefit to our recipients, Rotary Clubs especially like the fact that all coats stay in our district and directly affect our constituents!

 

     Operation Warm began in 1998 when retired business man Dick Sanford, a member of the Rotary Club of Longwood, District 7450, Kennett Square PA, read a newspaper story about children waiting for a school bus on a cold February morning without adequate winter clothing.  Moved by the story, Dick went to a local store and purchased every children’s coat they had, and arranged through his Rotary Club to personally give the coats to children in need at the local school.  This directly led to a club project the next year, and a District wide project in 2000. 

     Dick was incredibly moved by the impact the coats had on children and their families, and decided he wanted to do more.  So, like happens with many a Rotary Club project (e.g. ShelterBox), he formed a non-profit company (a 501c3 public charity) called Operation Warm and began building the program. Naturally, District 7450 Rotarians were among the early supporters, but in order to grow, support was sought from many partners, including private and corporate foundations, governmental agencies, churches and many caring individuals.