GEO stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine in their struggle to defeat the Russian invasion. We also salute the courage of the brave anti-war protesters in Russia. We affirm our support for our Ukrainian and Russian friends, colleagues, and comrades here at the University of Michigan, and we call upon our community to lead with compassion and consideration for those among us who are personally affected by this tragedy. To our Ukrainian colleagues: we stand with you in your hour of need. We call upon the US to accept all Ukrainian refugees and dedicate resources to humanitarian aid.
Students urgently in need of funds at this time are encouraged to apply to the following emergency funds at U-M:
We urge all of our members to join us to protest this war tomorrow, February 26, at 12 PM on the corner of North University Avenue and State Street:
For those affected by this crisis, we have compiled the following list of mental health resources available on campus and in our community:
- UM Counseling and Psychological Services
- Mental Health Services at UHS
- Washtenaw County Local Mental Health Resources
- Mental Health Copay Cap under the GEO Contract
- Wolverine Support Network’s Off-Campus Resource List
- SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline
We further wish to remind our colleagues, particularly our Ukrainian colleagues, that our contract allows GEO members to take up to six weeks of medical leave, including leave related to mental health, with no documentation required. Our contract also allows for at least three days of bereavement leave, with extensions available for international students.
For those looking to donate, please consider the following organizations:
- The organization Charitable Foundation Voices of Children provides psychological and psychosocial support to children affected by the armed conflict including art therapy, video storytelling, providing mobile psychologists and individual help for families.
- Sunflower of Peace is a nonprofit raising money to prepare first aid medical tactical backpacks for paramedics and doctors on the front lines. Each backpack is designed for groups of 5 to ten people and includes an array of first aid supplies — such as bandages, anti-hemorrhagic medicine and medical instruments.
- Revived Soldiers Ukraine funds medication and medical supplies for field and army hospitals at the front lines of eastern Ukraine. They need monetary donations to buy medication and to repair a car used to rush injured soldiers away from the front lines.
- CARE’s Ukraine Crisis Fund provides immediate aid including food, water, hygiene kits, support services and direct cash assistance. Its goal is to raise $20 million and help at least 4 million Ukrainians. It intends to prioritize women and girls, families and the elderly.
- Come Back Alive is a local organization that supports the Ukrainian military by offering supplies, protection, training, and psychological support to soldiers.
- The Kyiv Independent was created by journalists fired from the Kyiv Post. You can support this independent Ukrainian English-language media outlet by donating to its Patreon or GoFundMe fundraiser.
- Ukraine World is an independent English-language multimedia project that emerged from a volunteer initiative helping international journalists during the 2014 “Revolution of Dignity.” Support it by donating to its Patreon.
- The Ukrainian Red Cross is taking donations to fund emergency services.
- Caritas Polska seeks funding to provide beds for refugees from the crisis. Polish officials expect to welcome up to one million refugees from this crisis, and Caritas is one of the largest organizations providing aid for refugees arriving in Poland.
- GlobalGiving’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund partners with local organizations to provide assistance to refugees in Ukraine and surrounding countries.
- Other organizations providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine include: Save the Children, World Help, Project Hope, Hope for Ukraine.
- Fight For Right is an organization dedicated to supporting Ukrainians with disabilities through this crisis. People with disabilities are uniquely vulnerable in this catastrophe.
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