A Giving Heart in Ukraine’s Time of Need

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As our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine, people are asking how they can help the millions of people who have fled to neighboring countries. The European Union officials predict that as many as 7 million could eventually be displaced. Several international humanitarian groups are providing goods, services, food and water, even cash assistance to help families resettle. 

“The Virgin of Pochaiv,” Ivan Honchar Museum, 1840/1860 (photo: Public Domain)

Following is a list of donation sites actively helping the people of Ukraine. Most do far more than our brief description, so please visit their websites to learn more and to make your monetary donation. 

  • CARE: Emergency aid for food, water, and hygiene kits. See more »
  • Convoy of Hope: meals, food delivery, water. See more »
  • CORE: Cash, food, water, hygiene kits, thermal blankets. See more »
  • Doctors Without Borders: Medical and humanitarian support. See more »
  • International Committee of the Red Cross: essential human services, reuniting separated families. See more »
  • International Medical Corps: medical, mental health, protection services for refugees. See more »
  • The 762 Project: Volunteers tracking Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine. See more »

Various Catholic agencies are collecting donations. Among the many, please consider Caritas. They provide shelter, water, safe transport for women and children, and build child-friendly play spaces for youngsters who are otherwise bored and scared. See more »

The Knights of Columbus’ Ukraine Solidarity Fund has committed $1 million for immediate distribution to support Ukrainian refugees and will match all funds raised up to an additional $500,000. Donations provide shelter, food, medical supplies, clothing and religious goods for the men still in Ukraine and and the families in Poland’s refugee sites. See more »

The Catholic Review can provide links to additional Catholic agencies. 

To find a cause that closely fits your heart for giving, search online “help Ukraine” followed by the keyword(s) of your choice. And from NCR, this prayer:

O Lord God of powers, and God of our salvation, O God, who alone work wonders:
look down with mercy and compassion on Your humble servants,
and out of love for mankind hearken and have mercy on us
and on the land of Ukraine. Continue entire prayer »

Women’s Rights and the Argument Against Abortion

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Abortion was declared legal in the U.S.A. in 1973 yet it was still difficult to get an abortion except in severe cases of rape or incest. But in 1995, then First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton saw a pathway. The United Nations had declared human rights as the right to live free from violence, slavery, and discrimination, to be educated, to own property, to vote and to earn a fair and equal wage. The right to health care was not mentioned. So Clinton sought to declare that “women’s rights are human rights” giving women the right to health care. And sure enough, by 2009 a women’s right to health care was declared, carving a path for progressives to present abortion as an essential matter of health care.

For the record, we at the Stewardship Foundation support life, all human life. Born and unborn. We agree with those who advocate that the right to life should always outweigh the right of an individual to control their own body. Do we not rush to prevent all humans from a suicidal decision? 

There are women who are raped and become pregnant; 
the problem is that they were raped, not that they are pregnant.
There are women who are starving who become pregnant; 
the problem is that they are starving, not that they are pregnant.
There are women in abusive relationships who become pregnant; 
the problem is that they are in abusive relationships, not that they are pregnant.

Megan Clancy

At the dawn of Christianity, without modern medical knowledge, the Twelve Apostles and St. Barnabas through faith alone condemned abortion and infanticide. (Source: USCCB)  It is a scientific fact that human life begins at conception. Life is sacred and given by God, and therefore only God can decide when life ends. No intervention, no euthanasia, no abortion.

The Power and Impact of Giving

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Philanthropy is the desire to promote the welfare of others. It is expressed by the generosity of monetary giving to people or causes that focus on helping others solve problems over the long term. While philanthropy may seem new, its roots lie in the ancient world, in all belief systems, and has endured for centuries. It is part of the fabric of our modern world.

What is the difference between philanthropy and charity? When we drop a dollar in the Salvation Army bucket at Christmas-time, that is charity — a way to provide immediate relief to the people whom the Salvation Army help. Our response is usually driven by emotions.

Photo Credit: Eric Onyiego/USAID Kenya

When we give a monetary gift to bring about positive change in the world and in people’s lives over the long term, it is philanthropy. Philanthropists give of their money or their time, and often both. Our response is usually driven by the desire to make a difference, and often, as an opportunity to “give back” for having good fortune in our life.

Delivering bottled water to a drought-stricken area in East Africa is charity, but building wells for poor East African villages is philanthropy. 

Charity is giving to relieve an immediate problem. Philanthropy can be defined by the love of mankind. It is planned giving designed to address the root cause of a problem that can be solved over a period of time.

“Wealth is not new. Neither is charity. But the idea of using private wealth imaginatively, constructively, and systematically to attack the fundamental problems of mankind is new.”

John Gardner (1912 – 2002), founder of Common Cause

As we move headlong into a new year, let 2022 be our year of selfless charitable giving, meaningful philanthropic giving, and above all things, a year of “love of mankind.” 

Time, Talent, and Treasure: making life better for other people.

As always, we invite readers of our newsletter to allow the Stewardship Foundation to be good stewards of God’s abundance and your partner in life-affirming change in our communities.