Newsletter # 12: We can’t relent now – latest updates from Razom

Published: April 22, 2022

Here’s your regularly scheduled update from Razom during these irregular, difficult, life-changing times. Take note of our work thanks to your incredible, continued support, and take note of ways you can continue to stand with Ukraine. Right now it matters more than ever.

Dear Razom community,

We are entering a new phase of the war in Ukraine and your support (donations, advocacy, volunteering, showing up) has never been more important. As of right now, Razom has spent $19,454,438 of your donations to provide humanitarian war relief and recovery depending on the most urgent needs as they evolve. Here’s a roundup of the latest work and impact Razomtsi have been up to:

Fulfilled a total of 282 aid requests from territorial defense units, hospitals, and field hospitals across Ukraine. In the past several weeks, 62 of those made it into the hands of end users in the Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv regions in eastern Ukraine(an area that’s currently undergoing heavy fighting).
Procured and delivered 100 wound vac machines (vacuum assisted closure that removes fluids from the wound and pulls its edges together) to hospitals in Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kyiv, and Chernivtsi.
Procured and delivered 23 pickup trucks for paramedics to aid in the evacuation of wounded across hot spots of the war to help save lives of Ukrainian armed forces, joined by brave Ukrainian civilians.

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On April 20th Razom held its first Ukrainian Village Comprehensive Immigration Clinic that screened and consulted more than 50+ Displaced Ukrainians (DU) at an all-day event. It resulted with over 30 DUs qualifying for temporary protected status. Razom volunteer attorneys partnered with New York Legal Services Group – NYLAG to run the event and continue working on these cases free of charge (worth upwards of $45,000 in legal services). Thanks to its partnerships with private law firms in the city, NYLAG is also able to cover filing fees for every DU, worth at least $36,000.

New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Commissioner Manuel Castro gave an opening address welcoming newly-arrived Displaced Ukrainians and reminded them that it does not matter if they have lived in NYC for 50 years or for one week, they are already New Yorkers and very much welcomed here. Many DUs simply cannot afford to hire experienced immigration attorneys to handle their cases, which puts them at risk of making errors when filing themselves or receiving inadequate advice by non-licensed (yet more affordable) “consultants.”

This immigration clinic wouldn’t have been possible without the partnership of NYLAG, Cornerstone Church NYC (who provided space and refreshments), IRC, Ukrainian Jersey City, and NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Razom’s next immigration clinic will take place on May 6.

The blockade of Azovstal in besieged Mariupol is ongoing. Bear witness to the children sheltering in the fortress-like steel mill with over 2,000 Ukrainian fighters and civilians for weeks. Watch this. These children do not have to die. Commander of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade, Serhiy Volyna, filmed a message directly from Azovstal detailing exactly how we can save them. Watch it here.
Ukraine can stop russia only if it receives critical weapons from its international partners, such as heavy artillery, heavy-armored vehicles, air defense systems, and combat aircrafts. Therefore we call on our friends and supporters to join the social media campaign #ArmUkraineNow by taking a photo with the hashtag and going to social media to appeal to the leadership of your state, or to the international community at large, to provide critical heavy weapons to Ukraine.

Check out Razom’s new Advocacy page on our website to learn more about how you can educate yourself (and the public) about Ukraine. We provide resources about upcoming rallies, how to contact your representatives, and other creative ways to get involved in advocating for Ukraine.

For example this week, Razomtsi with other Ukrainian activists projected a Ukrainian flag on the russian ambassador’s luxurious townhouse in the Upper East Side of Manhattan with the message that Putin is a war criminal and Zelensky is a hero. Ashley Kernitsky, SVP, Group Creative Director, Brand Experience at BCW Global designed the graphic projection.

Meanwhile Razom’s Advocacy Team has carried out over 20 visits and engagements since the start of the war by meeting with high schools and universities, representatives’ offices, and activists and representatives of different communities. Some notable visits included a meeting with Safi Rauf, a Afghan-American Naval reservist very recently released by the Taliban, and running a lecture for the Ukrainian Diplomatic Academy for the diplomatic corps stationed all over the world, including those in Kazakstan, Cuba, and Japan consulates.

Safi Rauf meeting with Razom Advocacy Team

Here’s your roundup of events to consider supporting that are fundraising for a good cause (like Razom’s Emergency Response project!):

On Friday, April 22 at 10pm EDT the DJ collective Foreign Posse is hosting a Stand With Ukraine party at Karvouna Mezze on Manhattan.
Chicago Artists for Ukraine have organized a fundraising art sale and exhibit on Saturday, April 23 from 4-11pm CDT and Sunday, April 24 from 12-3pm CDT with all proceeds from ticket and art sales going to Razom.
On Saturday, April 23 urbanStages is hosting a Music Marathon For Ukraine at 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, and 8pm with all proceeds going to Razom’s Emergency Response.
On Saturday, April 23 Arjana and Ivan, an acoustic duo based in NYC known for their unique takes and creative arrangements of tunes new and old, will be performing a benefit concert for Ukraine at the Nite Spot Night series at the MAC. More info here.
On Saturday, April 23 Bier Station will join with the Ukrainian Club of Kansas City, MO for an all-day benefit to support Razom. They’re also hosting a silent auction online so you can participate even if you’re not in Missouri!
On Thursday, April 28 at 7-9pm in Brooklyn, NY Soapbox Gallery will run a 3-day tribute to Ukrainian music and culture.
On Saturday, April 30 from 2pm – 9:15pm EDT The Otto’s Benefit for Ukraine at Otto’s Shrunken Head in NYC will have a lineup of singer songwriters and bands with all proceeds from the concert going to Razom.
On Saturday, April 30 from 3:30-7:30pm the Hudson Valley Relief Benefit will feature guest speakers, music, food, and a silent auction. Get you tickets and join Novellas Restaurant in New Paltz, NY to support Razom’s Emergency Response project!
On Saturday, April 30 at 10-11:30am Pacific time Barnsdall Arts is hosting a Ukrainian Art Workshop via Zoom to learn about Petrykivka painting. All proceeds go to Razom.
On Saturday, April 30 at 1pm EDT, Weave A Real Peace (WARP) will host Ukrainian textile artists Halyna Shepko (New York), Daryna Alieksieienko (Kyiv), Andriy Pyshkar (Ternopil), and Yaroslava Tkachuk (Lviv) for a discussion about their work within the Ukrainian weaving traditions. Continuing Textile Traditions: Ukraine is a special program (online) to raise relief funds for Razom.
On Sunday, May 1, 7-9pm EDT the Arts Center of Carrboro, NC will host an Evening of Bold Stories to support Ukrainian refugees.
On Sunday, May 1 at 2pm EDT the Ukrainian American Business and Professionals Association and artist Dianna Derhak will host Sunflowers for Ukraine – Paint Sunday Fundraiser with all proceeds going to support the Ukrainian Documentary Film Project about the current war.
On Tuesday, May 3 at 7pm the Church Street School for Music and Art in NYC will host a Concert For Ukraine featuring violinist Nadia Khodakovska and members of CSSMA faculty. All proceeds will go to Razom. To reserve tickets email tobywine@churchstreetschool.org.
On Friday, May 6 from 7-10pm the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts in Manistee, MI will be hosting a concert to benefit relief efforts through Razom. More info here.
On Saturday, May 7 Gold’s Gym in Poughkeepsie, NY is hosting the 8th Annual Peace and Harmony Invitational with all proceeds benefiting Ukraine.
On May 17 DevOpsDays Ukraine (part of the global DevOpsDays family) is hosting a virtual conference benefiting Razom to to discuss DevOps during crisis, incident, and business continuity management and share Ukrainian DevOps expertise.
On May 21, a local group of runners in Cheshire, CT are hosting a 5K run/walk in their town to fundraise for Razom. Learn more info on how to join them or contribute to their GoFundMe page go here.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter and continue to #StandWithUkraine.

Stay Razom.

Little Italy and China Town on April 16, 2022

#ArmUkraineNow – Urgent Call To Action

Published: April 19, 2022

For fifty-four days, Ukraine has been heroically resisting russia’s military aggression. It is clear now that this is not just a russian military operation, but a planned genocide of the Ukrainian people. Hundreds of children have been displaced, injured and killed. Civilian buildings, and entire cities, have been destroyed, leveled and looted. Russia has begun a renewed offensive in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine can stop russia only if it receives critical weapons from its international partners, such as heavy artillery, heavy-armored vehicles, air defense systems, and combat aircraft (full list here).

Razom, with Mas Agency, announced a global social media campaign “Arm Ukraine Now.” Anyone who supports Ukraine, strives for its sovereignty and independence, and supports providing heavy weapons to Ukraine to end russia’s military aggression can participate in this campaign. It will run until April 30, 2022.

The campaign’s goal is to secure needed weapons for the Ukrainian army as soon as possible to push the aggressor out of Ukraine, and thus save thousands of civilian lives and defend democracy in Europe.

How to join the campaign:

Take a photo of yourself holding a piece of paper, on your phone, or tablet, with the slogan #ArmUkraineNow.
Post to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, with a short appeal to the leadership of your country, or to the international community at large with the request to provide Ukraine with heavy weapons to counter Russia’s aggression and to save civilian lives. Make sure to use the hashtag.
Tag three friends to do the same. Let’s make this go viral.

Proposed Text:

Why are we so afraid to arm the professional army of a democratic state that is fighting an aggressor on its own territory? Let’s unite to stop the war in Ukraine. Let’s defend freedom and save lives. I’m asking world leaders to #ArmUkraineNow.

Join us (tag 3 friends):

Post a picture with a sign #ArmUkraineNow
Ask your government to support Ukraine
Tag 3 friends to do the same.

Without additional weapons for Ukraine, this war will turn into an endless and bloody battle, which will spread misery, suffering, and more death. The war crimes will continue beyond Mariupol, Bucha, and Kramatorsk. The global impact of the war will make life more difficult for people around the world, beyond the borders of Ukraine. The sooner Ukraine gets arms the better for us all.

Join the #ArmUkraineNow social media campaign and invite your friends.

Only when we are many, we will be heard. Every post, and every participant has an impact!

Razom

Newsletter #11: Latest Updates from Razom and a To-Do List for this Weekend

Published: April 15, 2022

An update on the scale of Razom’s impact thanks to your donations and support, and a few key ways for you to do at least one thing for Ukraine today (including participating in a social media advocacy campaign).

Dear Razom community,

Thanks to your generosity and our unstoppable team of volunteers, Razom has been able to invest $14.4M into its Emergency Response efforts since day 1 of this war. Here’s how it breaks down:

$7.5M went towards procuring the most requested live-saving tactical medicine, medical supplies, and hospital needs delivered to territorial defense units and hospitals across regions in Ukraine that are actively fighting off their occupiers.
$4.5M went towards procuring non-medical humanitarian aid in the form of communications devices to ensure safe and effective delivery of aid.
$1.2M went towards grants issued by Razom to organizations and initiatives that help civilians in hotspots and/or internally displaced persons in Ukraine.
$548k went towards carrying out our logistics chain
$458k went towards procuring vehicles whether in the form of minibuses to help evacuate displaced children and families or in the form of 23 pick up trucks to help evacuate the wounded in active war zones.
$32k went towards Razom’s advocacy work

Meanwhile Razom’s Hospitals Team has built relationships with large nonprofit organizations and agencies that aggregate hospital supplies, global health and major disaster relief organizations, and several hospitals, to collect in-kind donations. To date, those in-kind donations have an estimated value of $1.2M. Check out our latest update on the Razom Blog to learn more about this incredible team and the organizations we’ve partnered up with. The first of many medical missions was successfully carried out this week in partnership with MedGlobal resulting in 40 hours of trainings for an estimated total of 350 Ukrainian physicians in Lviv on poly trauma surgical procedures/ diagnostics/ surgeries, on operating portable butterfly ultrasounds (donated by MedGlobal), and educating doctors on how to prepare and act in case of chemical warfare. These volunteering doctors were coming from Newark, NJ, Chicago, IL, Nashville, TN, and two from Paris, France. The mission brought with them 37 suitcases of medical supplies and 14 portable butterfly ultrasounds, estimating $700,000 in value.

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On our Blog you’ll also find the latest updates on how our long-time partners at “Building Ukraine Together” (БУР/BUR) have spent a $350k Razom grant supporting internally displaced people in Ukraine. With those funds they were able to accomplish some of the following:

Provide temporary shelter and homes for over 20,000 in western Ukraine.
Begin rebuilding destroyed family buildings in Kharkiv.
Organize the evacuation of over 1,300 people from Mariupol.
Deliver 75 fridges for blood preservation to 50 hospitals around Ukraine.

Starting today, Razom, along with several other Ukrainian organizations, calls upon its community and allies to join a global social media campaign “Arm Ukraine Now.” Anyone who supports Ukraine for its unity and independence, and supports providing heavy weapons to Ukraine to end russia’s military aggression can participate. It will run from today until April 30, 2022.

Here’s how to join:

Take a photo of a piece of paper, on your phone, tablet, with the slogan #ArmUkraineNow (or yourself holding the photo).
Post to Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, with a short appeal to the leadership of your state, or to the international community at large with the request to provide Ukraine with heavy weapons to counter russia’s aggression and to save civilian lives. A photo should also be posted in the official group of the campaign so that others can see it by using the hashtag.
Tag three friends to do the same.

Here’s your regular roundup of events to consider supporting that are fundraising for a good cause (like Razom’s Emergency Response project!):

Right now, the Underdonk Gallery in Brookly, NY is running a benefit auction of New York artists’ works to benefit Ukraine, with all the proceeds going to Razom. You can find more info, including a list of works here.
This Saturday, April 16, 1-4pm EDT the China Town – Little Italy Historic District Improvement Association in NYC is hosting a concert and food fair to fundraise for Ukraine.
On Wednesday, April 20, 12:30-2:00pm EDT the Westchester Biotech Project will host a webinar on The Global Impact of War in Ukraine on Clinical Research.
On Friday, April 22 at 10pm EDT the DJ collective Foreign Posse is hosting a Stand With Ukraine party at Karvouna Mezze on Manhattan.
Chicago Artists for Ukraine have organized a fundraising art sale and exhibit on Saturday, April 23 from 4-11pm CDT and Sunday, April 24 from 12-3pm CDT with all proceeds from ticket and art sales going to Razom.
On Saturday, April 23 urbanStages is hosting a Music Marathon For Ukraine at 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, and 8pm with all proceeds going to Razom’s Emergency Response.
On Saturday, April 23 Arjana and Ivan, an acoustic duo based in NYC known for their unique takes and creative arrangements of tunes new and old, will be performing a benefit concert for Ukraine at the Nite Spot Night series at the MAC. More info here.
On Saturday, April 30 from 2pm – 9:15pm EDT The Otto’s Benefit for Ukraine at Otto’s Shrunken Head in NYC will have a lineup of singer songwriters and bands with all proceeds from the concert going to Razom.
On Saturday, April 30 from 3:30-7:30pm the Hudson Valley Relief Benefit will feature guest speakers, music, food, and a silent auction. Get you tickets and join Novellas Restaurant in New Paltz, NY to support Razom’s Emergency Response project!
On Sunday, May 1, 7-9pm EDT the Arts Center of Carrboro, NC will host an Evening of Bold Stories to support Ukrainian refugees.
On Tuesday, May 3 at 7pm the Church Street School for Music and Art in NYC will host a Concert For Ukraine featuring violinist Nadia Khodakovska and members of CSSMA faculty. All proceeds will go to Razom. To reserve tickets email tobywine@churchstreetschool.org.
On Friday, May 6 from 7-10pm the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts in Manistee, MI will be hosting a concert to benefit relief efforts through Razom. More info here.
On Saturday, May 7 Gold’s Gym in Poughkeepsie, NY is hosting the 8th Annual Peace and Harmony Invitational with all proceeds benefiting Ukraine.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter and continue to #StandWithUkraine.

Stay Razom.

Razom Health Team Deepdive

Published: April 14, 2022

In over a month of victory and loss in Ukraine, Razom volunteers have worked tirelessly to find the most effective ways to deliver humanitarian aid that is most urgently needed to save lives. To build a more prosperous, free, democratic Ukraine, we need to stop the bleeding. Tactical medicine and tactical medical supplies are just one side of the equation – they help save lives in the field and in extreme situations. However, given the strain on the healthcare system in Ukraine due to the war and the covid pandemic, delivering basic medicines, medical devices, and hospital supplies have the power to impact lives off the field.

Razom Health Team has built relationships with large nonprofit organizations and agencies that aggregate hospital supplies, with global health and major disaster relief organizations, and with several hospitals, to collect in-kind donations. The partnerships with these giant donation entities allow Razom to maintain steady activity in shipping and distributing hospital medicines and supplies to people in many regions across Ukraine who need it most. Those partners include:

Patients of Ukraine (Пацієнти України) and Zdorovi are our partners on the ground helping to distribute the aid in the hands of the right end user. Through them, we have access to five warehouses across three different cities in Ukraine to be able to reliably distribute aid to hospitals in need.

Below is an overview of the $1.5M+ in estimated value of in-kind donations made to Razom, facilitated by our Razom Health Team:

Razom shipped 26 pallets of medical supplies via Partners For World Health in-kind donation.
Razom shipped 1 sea container of medical supplies via MedShare in-kind donation.
Razom delivered three shipments of medications via Americares in-kind donation totaling 8 pallets.
Razom shipped 21 pallets of new hospital scrubs to military hospitals in Ukraine to boost morale of the overworked medical professionals via FIGS in-kind donation.
We’ve also coordinated in-kind donations from hospitals and individual medical professionals that have collectively included:
- 8 pallets of medical hospital supplies from UMass Memorial Medical Center
- 1 wound vac and 5 boxes of surgical / central line catheters from private donations
- 6 boxes of surgical supplies from Rhode Island Doctors donated to our tactical medicine efforts
Our donors have purchased 6,850 items off of our Amazon Wishlist, valuing over $180,000 of in-kind donations. There are still 9,543 items remaining on that list, including the most urgently needed humanitarian and medical supplies that we’re delivering to Ukraine. Go here to make an in-kind donation to Razom.
Help Heroes of Ukraine, a charity organization based out of Chicago has been a major transportation partner for us, volunteering to deliver many pallets of aid on our behalf to our Meest warehouse in New Jersey.

The magnificent Razom Hospitals Team in action

A special partnership thus far has been with MedGlobal, a humanitarian and health NGO working to serve vulnerable communities around the world by providing innovative, free, and sustainable healthcare. Together with the Ministry of Health in Ukraine, MedGlobal and Razom conducted the first of several successful medical missions bringing a team of 7 trauma surgeons to provide over 40 hours of trainings for an estimated total of 350 Ukrainian physicians in Lviv, Ukraine on poly trauma surgical procedures/ diagnostics/ surgeries, on operating portable butterfly ultrasounds (donated by MedGlobal), and educating doctors on how to prepare and act in case of chemical warfare. These volunteering doctors were coming from Newark, NJ, Chicago, IL, Nashville, TN, and two from Paris, France.

The MedGlobal group also brought along with them 37 suitcases of medical supplies (over two missions) and 14 portable butterfly ultrasounds, estimating $700,000 in value, to hospitals across Ukraine post-training. The butterfly ultrasounds are especially powerful in democratizing access to medical imaging in resource constrained zones. A total of 10,000 patients may benefit from just one of these missions!

Razom also helped facilitate MedGlobal’s meeting with over 50 medical students in Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University and over a dozen medical leaders and heads of hospitals in Lviv.

We are so grateful to be building long-term relationships with these organizations as they are key to Razom being able to respond quickly and at scale to the needs in Ukraine. There’s good reason we named ourselves Razom, which means “together” in Ukrainian.

Dr. Zaher Sahloul of MedGlobal visiting med school students in Lviv

Volunteer Iryna Kit loading up your Amazon Wishlist donations (with a little furry helper) to transfer to our NJ warehouse

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BUR Helps Internally Displaced Ukrainians in Time of Need

Published: April 13, 2022

From the first days of russian’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine, our long-time partner organization “Building Ukraine Together” (БУР/BUR) shifted their focus to helping Ukrainians in and from the most affected cities and towns. Having a trusted partner on the ground is a great benefit for Razom to make a faster impact given BUR has a large network of skilled and reliable volunteers across Ukraine thanks to years of organized rebuilding projects and camps all over the country. Now, during the war, these volunteers have transformed into agents of support to the most vulnerable groups in war-torn areas.

In early March, Razom decided to provide a second grant to help accelerate BUR’s efforts. From the latest BUR report, we can see that the funds were well spent, efficiently closing the gaps in provision and support. According to the report, between March 24 – April 10 in cooperation with other Ukrainian Education Platform’s programs, BUR teams have managed to:

help over 3,000 people with humanitarian supply in 12 oblasts of Ukraine;
place over 20,000 people in temporary shelters and homes in the west of Ukraine;
rebuild a destroyed roof in a Kharkiv multi-family building;
organize and financially help with evacuation of over 1,300 people, including people from Mariupol through pastor Gennadiy Mokhnenko;
help a Kyiv volunteer group feed elderly people in the bomb shelters/hospitals and medical personnel (supporting over 1,000 people overall);
prepare and launch two volunteering camps that will revamp homes for over 60 IDPs in Drohobych/Ivano-Frankivsk;
fund a sewing business that will employ 5 IDPs in Lviv region in 1 month and over 15 in 2 months;
deliver 75 fridges for blood preservation to 50 hospitals around Ukraine.

Thanks to BUR’s network, they successfully supported grassroots initiatives in the regions that have suffered most from the invasion. Here are a few of the stories from the BUR activists:

Anna Ryasna (Luhansk region):
BUR delivered humanitarian aid for about 300 people in Dnipro. Anna Ryasna, a BUR volunteer, later transported it to Severodonetsk and Lysychansk. Fighting is currently taking place in these cities, and people have to stay in shelters for a long time, which is why there is a great need for food. Flashlights, batteries, mats, sleeping bags, medicines and food were delivered.
Ilya Bakumenko (Donetsk region):
Ilya is a BUR-friend and a volunteer for the camps. He organized a humanitarian headquarters in the city of Soledar, which receives and provides assistance to displaced persons. There is already a problem with food supplies in the Donetsk region, so the headquarters needed a lot of help. Personal hygiene products and food (canned food, vegetables, cereal, flour, pasta) were delivered to Soledar for 500 people.
Kira Okhrimenko (Sumy region):
Kira is a BUR camp volunteer, participant in the mentoring program and the BURlab project management school. She coordinated the delivery of humanitarian aid to several small villages in the Sumy region. Priority was given to remote settlements which were experiencing difficulties with transport connections. Namely, assistance was sent to 300 people: food kits and sweets, personal care products, household chemicals, baby formula, diapers.

In addition to all the aid listed above, BUR has helped provide personal medical aid packages and food packages to those in need in Kharkiv, thermal clothing for civil territorial defense units in Odesa and Mykolaiv regions, sleeping bags for the support centers for internally displaced people in Poltava, Dnipro Zhytomyr and Donetsk regions, and other diverse support for Ukrainians, who have lost their homes. Learn more about BUR and their support at their page in social media.

Support BUR by donating today!

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Newsletter #10: No time to rest, updates on Razom Emergency Response

Published: April 9, 2022

In this latest newsletter update, you’ll find that Razom finds no time to rest. We have updates on how your continuous donations make a difference for Ukraine and more ways to get involved.

As the war continues, so does the physical and emotional toll it takes on Ukrainians near and far. However, the support pouring in from so many pockets of the world, and the strength and resilience of the people of Ukraine, volunteers, organizations on the ground, help us to be relentless in our mission to build a more prosperous Ukraine. The time to act – donate, rally, protest, call and write to your representatives, organize, and volunteer – has never been more important. As long as the russian invasion continues, the need to help Ukraine does as well. So we humbly call on your incredible generosity again to help Razom continue to maintain and scale our humanitarian relief efforts. Here’s a list of some of the work we’ve been able to accomplish:

At the same time that a russian missile hit Kramatorsk train station killing over 50 people, Razom and “Dity my vstyhnemo” teams safely evacuated 115 people from Bakhmut, 50 kilometers away from the train station. In the last few days, we evacuated over 150 people from the Donetsk oblast – Bakhmut, Soledar and Chasiv Yar.
We worked with Spirit of America to equip our volunteer driver teams in Ukraine with their own helmets, body armor, and IFAKs. They risk their lives daily to deliver aid and carry out evacuations from the most dangerous, war-torn cities of Ukraine, and we are endlessly grateful for their effectiveness and bravery.
Thanks to an IT system that a small group of volunteers built from scratch to track our warehouse inventory in Ukraine and match it to needs in battle-torn regions in Ukraine, our driver team has distributed over 117 orders of tactical medicine, hospital medicine, civilian drones for safe medical delivery, walkie-talkies, and satellite phones to territorial defense units and hospitals across Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Vinnytsia regions.
We have procured and shipped over 115,248 tourniquets alone!
Razom and Ukrainian Jersey City are partnering to assist displaced Ukrainians with shelter, healthcare services, and education in the New York and New Jersey area. If you can help a Displaced Ukrainian in a meaningful way, please fill out the form: https://forms.gle/976Bk6VpwnuNkbG86

Meanwhile Razom’s Advocacy Team is doing another round of meetings on the Hill next week. Ukraine is holding the frontline for democracy for people all over the world right now, it’s important that everyone be engaged in the effort.

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Since late February, you have come together to host over 200 events that fundraise toward Razom’s work in Ukraine. Each one of us can do 1 thing to help Ukraine whether that’s in our homes, communities, or workplaces. We are so grateful for the communities that have been brought together all over the country. Below is a snapshot of some of the latest events for you to partake in:

Today in NYC (Sat 4/9) at 2pm, we’ll be gathering atTimes Squareand marching to theConsulate General of Ukraine to #stopukrainiangenocide draw the world’s attention to the genocide carried by russia towards the Ukrainian nation. More info here.
Today in Washington D.C. (Sat 4/9) at 3-5pm, we’ll be doing a performance protest to draw the world’s attention to the genocide carried by russia towards the Ukrainian nation, as well as demand help for Ukrainians to fight back the russian aggression. More info here.
Today in Brooklyn (Sat 4/9) at 6-11pm there will be an opening party of Ukrainian artist, Kate Goltseva’s new exhibit ‘Peace’ at the Rich Ramsay Studio in Dumbo. Half of the art sales will be donated to Razom. Kate, born and raised in Kyiv, has an opportunity to share her new collection, inspired by the Ukraine she knows, to raise awareness of her country’s culture and contribute to those in need. More info here.
Today, 4/9 from 12-5pm CST in Westmont, IL the Uptown Tavern (12 W Burlington Ave) will be hosting a fundraising featuring music, drink specials, door prizes, and raffles to raise money for Razom.
All weekend at the Little Market’s Noho location (637 Broadway, NYC) Divchata has partnered with the woman-owned, non-profit fair trade shop featuring ethically sourced, artisan-made products to shop for Ukraine. 100% of proceeds will be donated to Razom.
On Sunday, 4/10 at 2pm we’ll be running #BoycottNestle pickets simultaneously at two locations: 1) SoHo, 92 Prince Street and 2) Uptown 935 Madison Avenue. More info here.
On Sunday, 4/10 at 6:30pm Reserva Wine Bar will host a Beacon Benefit for Ukraine featuring professional Broadway singers, international musicians, singer/songwriters and performing community members from Beacon, NY. All proceeds will be going towards Razom. More info here.
On Monday, 4/11 at 7:30pm the St. Malachy’s – The Actors’ Chapel and Mercury Opera team up to raise funds with FREEDOM, a concert for Ukraine. Catch the line up and your tickets here.
NYC Moms For A Cause will be hosting a Cocktail Reception to Benefit Ukrainian Families on April 12th, 6:30-9:00pm at the Ukrainian Institute of America. The evening will include live performances, a silent auction, and heavy canapés and flowing drinks, all in support of Razom Emergency Response.
Chicago Artists for Ukraine have organized a fundraising art sale and exhibit on Saturday, April 23rd from 4-11pm CST with all proceeds from ticket and art sales going to Razom. More info here.
On Saturday, 4/23 Arjana and Ivan, an acoustic duo based in NYC known for their unique takes and creative arrangements of tunes new and old, will be performing a benefit concert for Ukraine at the Nite Spot Night series at the MAC. More info here.
April 30th from 3:30-7:30pm the Hudson Valley Relief Benefit will feature guest speakers, music, food, and a silent auction. Get you tickets and join Novellas Restaurant in New Paltz, NY to support Razom Emergency Response project!
May 3rd at 7pm the Church Street School for Music and Art in NYC will host a Concert For Ukraine featuring violinist Nadia Khodakovska and members of CSSMA faculty. All proceeds will go to Razom. To reserve tickets email tobywine@churchstreetschool.org.
May 6th from 7-10pm the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts in Manistee, MI will be hosting a concert to benefit relief efforts through Razom. More info here.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter and continue to #StandWithUkriane.

Stay Razom.

Jack Dorsey’s #StartSmall Invests $1 Million to Razom for Ukraine and Partner Organizations to Support Ukraine

Published: April 6, 2022

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Twitter co-founder and Block Co-Founder, CEO, and Chairman Jack Dorsey, donates $1 million through his philanthropic initiative, #StartSmall, to support Ukraine and deliver critical humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Following the russian invasion, Ukrainian-American non-profit, Razom, which means “together” in Ukrainian, quickly mobilized an emergency response to deliver critical humanitarian aid including tactical medical supplies, hospital supplies, and tech-enabled emergency response supplies that facilitate the delivery of this aid. This generous donation will help to continue supporting Ukraine during this critical time.

Since russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Razom has sent close to 200+ tons of tactical medical equipment and critical medical supplies to Ukraine, with many more on the way. Razom volunteers have made a total of 14 trips carrying tactical medicine cargo to various volunteer civilian defense corps prioritizing cities and regions where Ukrainians are actively repelling russian occupiers. These regions include Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, and Odessa.

Razom has scaled its operations significantly since February and continues to expand its capabilities in delivering critical humanitarian aid. To deliver aid in Ukraine, Razom collaborates with partners on the ground such as Kryla Nadiyi (Wings of Hope), Euromaidan-Warszava, and Ukrainian Education Platform.

Here’s an overview of some of Razom’s impact in the first 30 days of the war in Ukraine:

Razom spent more than $10.5M with over $5.8M going towards procuring and delivering tactical medicine and tacmed equipment.
- Razom procures, on average, 10,000 tourniquets per week (worth over $250,000/week) from the most reputable suppliers buying CAT, SOF-T and/or SAM brands. In life-or-death situations, tourniquets stop arterial bleeding so the quality of this single-use device matters. They continue to be the most sought-after and requested forms of aid across Ukraine.
- Thanks to Razom’s strong ties to communities and professionals on the ground in Ukraine, Razom has been able to learn of exact needs quickly and act on specific requests that can make a big difference. For example: SAM splints. Razom procured over 3,100 of them for $56,100, designed for immobilizing bone and soft tissue injuries in emergency settings.
- Purchased over 10,300 chest seals for over $58,000, procured through Ukrainians in the U.S. and Canada, as the supply of chest seals has been completely depleted in North America, through July. Razomers found contacts in Australia and the U.K to buy over 6,000 chest seals.
- A group of about 15 volunteers worked around the clock to sort and pack aid for shipment overseas. In one week’s time, they put together 3,000+ IFAKs in Razom’s New Jersey warehouse, in partnership with Meest-America. These first aid kids are designed to treat traumatic injuries and severe bleeding.
Procured a defibrillator, insulin, and other important medicines like metformin, glimepiride, levothyroxine that was delivered to the Ukrainian Diabetes Association in Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Luhansk regions. Razom accomplished this in partnership with volunteers at AWO Ortsverein Reischach – AG and Ukraine-HILFE Berlin e.V.
Delivered 100 drones across the Polish border that will be used to ensure the safe delivery of medical and tactical medical supplies by Razom volunteers traveling across hotspot areas in Ukraine.
Evacuated 32 different families (making up 91 individuals) from ten cities and regions of Ukraine.
Ran and/or hosted hundreds of events in support of Ukraine in the United States and Canada and conducted hundreds of advocacy interviews in the US and Canadian press.

“Donations come in many forms, both large and small, and we are beyond grateful to Jack Dorsey and #StartSmall for this incredible contribution. We’re also excited to see support for a number of organizations we’ve been working with for years, including Sunflowers of Peace and Nova Ukraine, who are doing critically important work in Ukraine. Our emergency response and mission right now is focused on one thing: to save lives in Ukraine, and this contribution has already helped us do just that,” said Dora Chomiak, President of Razom.

Razom has focused most of its efforts during this time on delivering aid where it is needed most – on the ground in Ukraine. Razom’s overall mission is to build a more prosperous Ukraine.

ABOUT RAZOM

Razom, which means “together” in Ukrainian, is committed to building a prosperous Ukraine. The organization believes deeply in the enormous potential of dedicated volunteers around the world united by a single mission: building a more prosperous Ukraine. Established in the United States, the non-profit organization works towards that mission by creating spaces where people meet, partner and do. In this time of need, they have created the Razom Emergency Response which is focused on purchasing medical supplies for critical situations like blood loss and other tactical medicine items, hospital supplies, and tech enabled emergency response supplies that facilitate the delivery of this aid. Razom’s procurement and logistics teams are made up of a trusted volunteer network they’ve nurtured since 2014 and partner organizations worldwide. Razom is also working with governments and embassies on helping to establish humanitarian corridors.

ABOUT #STARTSMALL

#StartSmall is Jack Dorsey’s philanthropic initiative to fund global COVID-19 relief, girls health and education, and efforts towards Universal Basic Income. Dorsey transferred $1 billion (28% of his wealth) to #StartSmall in 2020.

Contacts

Press

Nonna Tsiganok

Media Relations, Razom

nonna@razomforukraine.org

Razom Team – Who Are We?

Published: April 2, 2022

Many of our supporters and followers ask the same question – who are Razomers? And we, as always, answer that Razom is our volunteers, Razomers, whose hearts ache for Ukraine, who give their time, expertise and energy in pursuit of a common goal – a strong and independent Ukraine!

All of our photos show only a fraction of Razom volunteers. Today, Razom is comprised of:

200+ active volunteers in the US (and a few hundred more who help periodically)
20+ volunteers in Canada
20+ volunteers in Poland
50+ volunteers in Ukraine
dozens of partner organizations
procurement teams, logistics, sorting, warehouse platform developers, warehouse operators, drivers, communicators, financiers, donor support team, advocacy team, lawyers, protest and charity concert organizers, and an entire team responding to endless emails and phone calls

Our teams’ intense cooperation and hard work have resulted so far in:

more than 200 tons of cargo sent to Ukraine: tactical medicine, hospital medicine, civilian drones for safe medical delivery, walkie-talkies, telephones, rations
delivered goods to Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa regions
hundreds of events in support of Ukraine in the United States and Canada
hundreds of advocacy interviews in the US and Canadian press
and a great desire to win the war!

We are deeply grateful to all our volunteers for their dedication and tireless work!

Багато хто задає те саме запитання – хто такі Razomці? А ми, як завжди, відповідаємо, що Razom – це і є наші волонтери, Razomці, у яких болить серце за Україну, які віддають свій час, знання та енергію заради спільної мети – сильної та незалежної України!

На всіх наших фотографіях – лише частина волонтерів Razom. А загалом, наразі під час війни Razom – це:

200+ активних волонтерів в США (і ще кілька сотень таких, що допомагають періодично)
20+ волонтерів в Канаді
20+ волонтерів в Польщі
50+ волонтерів в Україні
десятки партнерських організацій
команди закупівель, логістики, сортування, розробники платформи складу, оператори складу, водії, комунікаційники, фінансисти, команда підтримки донорів, адвокаційна команда, юристи, організатори протестів і благодіних концертів, команда, яка відповідає на чисельні емейли і телефонні дзвінки

Інтенсивна співпраця та наполеглива робота наших команд наразі вже привели до наступних результатів:

понад 200 тон вантажів відправлених в Україну: тактична медицина, госпітальна медицина, цивільні дрони задля безпеки перевезень, рації, телефони, сухпайки
доставлені вантажі в Житомирську, Київську, Чернігівську, Сумську, Харківську, Луганську, Донецьку, Дніпровську, Запорізьку, Миколаївську, Одеську області
сотні подій на підтримку України в США і Канаді
сотні адвокаційних інтерв’ю в пресі США і Канади
і величезне бажання виграти війну!

Ми щиро вдячні всім нашим волонтерам за самовідданість та невтомну працю!

Newsletter #9: Razom Health Team, volunteer fundraising spotlight, and latest roster of events

Published: March 31, 2022

Below you’ll find updates from Razom Health team, a volunteer fundraising impact story grown out of WI, and a list of the latest events across the country for you to go and support Ukraine.

Dear Razom community,

The sorting and packing in our New Jersey warehouse doesn’t stop and that’s thanks to all of your (and our partners’) donations and our teams’ procurements that continue to pour in. Each of the steps you take, big or small, are a part of a chain of support that makes a difference in Ukraine. Today we want to shine a light on two different teams at Razom – the hospitals team and the US migrant task force team.

Razom Health team (hospitals@razomforukraine.org) is a segment of our Emergency Response project that coordinates and partners with global health and major disaster relief organizations to collect in-kind donations of hospital supplies and medicines for Ukraine. Those partners include MedShare, PartnersforWorldHealth, Americares, and Afya Foundation. Thanks to our on the ground partners Zdorovi and Patients of Ukraine (Пацієнти України), we have access to five warehouses across 3 different cities in Ukraine to be able to reliably distribute aid to hospitals in need. Here’s what they’ve accomplished so far:

MedGlobal x Razom x UMANA x Ministry of Health in Ukraine are partnering to facilitate the first of several week-long medical missions by bringing a team of 10 trauma surgeons to Lviv, traveling with 160 suitcases of medical supplies and portable butterfly ultrasounds. They will provide trainings for Ukrainian doctors on poly trauma surgical procedures/diagnostics/surgeries, on operating portable butterfly ultrasounds (donated by MedGlobal), and educating doctors on how to prepare (and act) in case of chemical warfare.
PartnersforWorldHealth has sent over 26 pallets of medical supplies to Razom, 7 of which we shipped by air and the rest by sea (based on priority of needs in Ukraine).
MedShare is finalizing its first sea container of medical supplies to go to Ukraine next week, and has invited Razom to its 10th Annual Share the Good Gala on April 4th to raise funds for humanitarian aid efforts in Ukraine.
Americares is sending its 3rd large shipment of urgent medications next week via Razom for our partner in Ukraine Patients of Ukraine (Пацієнти України).
We’ve also coordinated and received in-kind donations from hospitals and individual medical works that have collectively included:
- 8 pallets of medical hospital supplies from UMass Memorial Medical Center
- 1 woundvac and 5 boxes of surgical / central line catheters from private donations
- 6 boxes of surgical supplies from Rhode Island Doctors donated to our tactical medicine efforts
FIGS donated 21 pallets of new hospital scrubs to military hospitals in Ukraine to boost morale of the overworked medical professionals.
Help Heroes of Ukraine has been a major transportation partner for us, volunteering to deliver many pallets of aid on our behalf to our Meest warehouse in New Jersey.

We are so grateful to be building long-term relationships with these organizations as they are key to Razom being able to respond quickly and at scale to needs in Ukraine. There’s good reason we named ourselves Razom, which means “together” in Ukrainian #RazomAccelerates.

Thanks to the work of the Door County Candle Company, there’s now a little bit of Ukraine lighting up homes in all 50 states in the U.S., including Puerto Rico. Second generation Ukrainian-American, Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani, channeled her feelings of helplessness over what’s happening in Ukraine by putting her talents and resources to good use, and inspiring her community to do the same. This artisan candle shop located in Sturgeon Bay, WI in Northern Wisconsin’s Door County Peninsula, has raised over $300,000 (and counting) for Razom’s Emergency Response by selling over 40,000 “Ukraine” candles. That’s double the amount they’d usually sell in a year!

To be able to get this done, Christiana got her father, an ER doctor helping when he’s not on shift, her Door County community of volunteers, and even the previous owner of the shop, who came out of retirement to help streamline the process. People drive up from hours away to be a part of the volunteer effort pouring and preparing candles or making lunches and coffee for the team. Even Christiana’s 82 year-old grandmother, who immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine as a child during World War II, is helping to sticker the packages.

Everyday people from all walks of life, professions, creeds, ethnicities, and worldviews unite to do one thing to help Ukraine, and it’s so beautiful. You don’t have to do everything, but you can do something, and together, that can be extraordinary.

Finally, here’s a list of events we’d like to bring to your attention and encourage you to support:

On Saturday, April 2nd theUkrainian Bandura Chorus Concert of North America will be performing a Save the Ukrainian Voice Charitable Concert in Michigan with all proceeds benefiting Razom.
On Saturday, April 2nd refnight.com (who goes to a hockey game every year to cheer for the referees and raise money for charity) has chosen Razom for an evening at a New Jersey Devils hockey game.
All the proceeds from a Charity Gala Event on Sunday, April 3rd at the Oceana Theater in Brooklyn will be going to Razom’s Emergency Response project. The event will be performance-based, with the acts varying from music (performances from KAZKA and Alyosha amongst others), children’s choir and dance, speeches, and video blocks (feat. Okean Elzy, Jamala, and Max Barskih).
NYC Moms For A Cause will be hosting a Cocktail Reception to Benefit Ukrainian Families on April 12th, 6:30-9:00pm at the Ukrainian Institute of America. The evening will include live performances, a silent auction, and heavy canapés and flowing drinks, all in support of Razom’s Emergency Response.
April 30th from 3:30-7:30pm the Hudson Valley Relief Benefit will feature guest speakers, music, food, and a silent auction. Get you tickets and join Novellas Restaurant in New Paltz, NY to support Razom’s Emergency Response project!

As always, thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter and continue to #StandWithUkraine.

Stay Razom.

Candles Bring WI Community Together for Ukraine

Published: March 30, 2022

Razom has brought so many people together that we’ve gotten into the habit of calling all of the volunteers stepping up to do what they can to help Ukraine as the “second front” of the war. Everyday people from all walks of life, professions, creeds, ethnicities, and worldviews unite to do one thing to help Ukraine, and it’s so beautiful. Small actions can have a big impact when we do things razom (meaning “together” in Ukrainian). It’s one of the many reasons Ukraine will win.

We want to shine a light on one such story, which is the story of a second generation Ukrainian-American who channeled her feelings of helplessness over what’s happening in Ukraine by putting her talents and resources to good use. In Sturgeon Bay, WI located in Northern Wisconsin’s Door County Peninsula, Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani began making blue and yellow candles at her small artisan shop called the Door County Candle Company to raise awareness about what’s happening in Ukraine in her community and raise funds for Razom’s Emergency Response project.

Christiana is the cousin of long-time Razom volunteer Taras Ferencevych. You might remember him selling Turbat camping gear at the Razom Lounge in 2018 at the 7th Street Festival in New York City. Razom’s success has always hinged on our ability to unlock the potential of a group of volunteers, and we are forever grateful for how they continue to show up.

In three week’s time, she sold over 40,000 “Ukraine” candles, raising over $300,000 (and counting) for Razom. Expecting to sell around 300, 40k is double the amount of candles the shop would sell in a year. They’ve delivered candles to all 50 states across the country. To be able to get this done, Christiana got her father, an ER doctor helping when he’s not on shift, her Door County community of volunteers, and even the previous owner of the shop, who came out of retirement to help streamline the process. People drive up from hours away to be a part of the volunteer effort pouring and preparing candles or making lunches and coffee for the team.

Even Christiana’s 82 year-old grandmother, who immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine as a child during World War II, is helping to sticker the packages. When Christiana talks about watching her grandmother relive the war in Ukraine from when she was a child, she tears up. Christiana born in the U.S. with Ukrainian as her first language, has family in Ukraine today. What keeps her focused is remembering the bigger picture – that she, and the community she inspires, can make a difference for people fighting for their freedom in Ukraine. You don’t have to do everything, but you can do something, and together, that can be extraordinary.

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