CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Pinellas Community Foundation created the Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Fund of Tampa Bay after the calls, and in-person questions started coming in.

What You Need To Know

  • The Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Fund was recently created by the Pinellas Community Foundation

  • The fund was created in response to community demand

  • PCF says donations will go to organizations vetted by them for maximum humanitarian impact in Ukraine
  • Donations can be made online or via text

"They're looking for trusted places to donate, trusted places to give, and trying to figure out how to help," said Duggan Cooley, the foundation's CEO. "We're seeing images that are coming into our house that are unbelievable. They're on our phones. There's really no way to avoid it and also avoid seeing the immense humanitarian crisis."

For 53 years, PCF has supported disaster relief efforts at the local and state level and beyond. Cooley said the goal with this new fund is to give Tampa Bay residents a trusted place to give locally. PCF will then connect those funds to national and international efforts to provide humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

"The resources that we receive will go to charities and causes that we have vetted here from the foundation, that we trust, and then we know we're doing good work on the ground to assist with the humanitarian crisis," Cooley said. 

In addition to people wanting to help, PCF said it's heard from Tampa Bay residents with their own knowledge of the needs of refugees. A woman named Anna is one of them. Anna asked Spectrum Bay News 9 not to use her full name because of safety concerns. Anna grew up in Poland, which borders Ukraine.

"As far as the connection to Ukraine today, I guess my connection is that of empathy, sympathy, and the need to extend help," said Anna.

Back in January, Anna put the word out to people she knew from Ukraine who still had loved ones there: anyone who wished to stay in her house in Poland was welcome.

"The house is empty, unoccupied. It's a very nice house, and you can be safe there, for sure," Anna said.

Anna said it wasn't until later that people began to take her up on the offer. There are currently two women and two children staying in the home.

"I hope that they're enjoying their stay there because the house loves company," Anna said.

She said friends in Poland extended their help through Anna to others in Ukraine, so more refugees may find their way to the home. Anna said extending this offer of shelter is the least she can do.

Click here to donate to the Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Fund of Tampa Bay, text "Ukraine" to 71441.