Posted by Bob Wallace, Past District Governor and Chair of District 7070 Rotary Foundation Committee

To All Rotarians and Rotaractors in District 7070

The District 7070 Foundation committee has been watching the expanding humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and knows many clubs are offering support through the Red Cross or ShelterBox to name two. These offer immediate support to the victims. For Rotary Clubs looking to provide support for the Ukraine we are suggesting the following three recommendations: .....

1- In response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the Rotary Foundation has made available the Disaster Response Fund as the main avenue for contributions.

Rotary International has the Disaster Response Fund set up where clubs can apply for Global Grants to help with the crisis.

This will be the main avenue for Rotary Foundation support, but Rotary and Rotaract clubs are also encouraged to create their own responses to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

The District 7070 Foundation Committee has proposed that the District will match all Rotarian and club donations to the Disaster Response Fund up to $25,000.

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

Individuals and clubs can donate to the Disaster Response Fund and Recognition of all donations will be credited to the individual donors and clubs.

Here is the link for online donations (see: https://my.rotary.org/en/disaster-response-fund )

2- ShelterBox- District 7070 Rotary and Rotaract Clubs can make donations towards the Ukraine Aid for ShelterBox (a Rotary partner) via The Rotary Club of Toronto matching grant campaign and double their impact.

The Rotary Club of Toronto is donating $15,000 towards Ukraine Aid via ShelterBox Canada and an additional $15,000 has been set up for a $ for $ matching grant campaign.

Click here to donate: (see: https://linktr.ee/RotaryToronto)

ShelterBox Teams are now on the ground looking at providing shelter and emergency aid packages to those displaced in Ukraine and refugees in neighbouring countries. Emergency aid packages to include things like blankets, solar lights, mats, warm clothes and other locally sourced items.

Here is how you can help:

1. Donate towards our Matching Grant campaign and double your impact here: https://Linktr.ee/RotaryToronto

2. Share the above link with your network - tell friends and colleagues.

3. Make sure to Like, Share and/or Comment on these social media posts about the matching grants campaign and create a domino effect:

3- Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC) for your willingness to support our emergency response to Ukraine. For 31 year’s HPIC has been working to increase the access of medicines in vulnerable communities that have been affected by crisis, conflict, or have been victims of natural disasters. Since 1990, we have mobilized $625 million worth of medicines and directly impacted 25 million people across 130 countries. At this time, we feel that the situation in Ukraine is simply heart-breaking, and our organization sees the urgent need to respond and provide immediate medical relief. That’s what we are meant to do – to care for our neighbours in need.

HPIC has just organized an emergency response fundraising campaign with a financial goal of $240,000. We want is to help expedite medicines to Ukrainians in need, either in-country or in neighbouring countries which they have gone to seek refuge.

We are currently working with NGO & pharmaceutical partners and every day Canadian donors to make an impact now. Last week, we mobilized our first shipment of medicines with our Humanitarian Medical Kits (HMKs) to Poland and we are in discussions to continue sending medical aid with healthcare professionals who are part of a medical mission teams as well as other well-established NGO partners who are also responding. HPIC is uniquely positioned in that we are the only charity in Canada with a Canada Health License and able to mobilize donated medicines quickly and efficiently.

Our response to help the people of Ukraine will be continuous over the course of this year. To do this, we need help!

Our pledge for 2022 is to mobilize a minimum of 400 Humanitarian Medical Kits (HMKs). Each HMK consists of 600 treatments and is valued at approximately $6,000.00 CND. Based on current needs HMK consist of essential medicines such as antibiotics, antihypertensives, anti-inflammatories, analgesics, products to treat dermal infections, asthma, heart conditions and first aid. We have been asking the community to join this response by helping us to sponsor the costs of mobilizing these kits. Each HMK can be sponsored for $600.00. At this time, we have secured funding to mobilize the first 100 HMKs and we appeal to all of you at Rotary to help us get closer to the finish line. Every HMK that is sponsored literally help to save the lives and restore the health of our brothers and sisters of Ukraine who have been affected by this terrible war.

Donations coming in from District 7070 Rotary and Rotaract clubs will be matched dollar for dollar. You can get involved in several ways:

You can donate online at www.hpicanada.ca and select “Ukraine Emergency Response” fund. Please be sure to tell your club lead that you have made your donation online so that they can keep track.

You can fundraise /donate offline. We also ask that you notify your club lead so that they can keep track.

To issue a tax receipt, we need the following: Donor Full Name, Mailing address, Contact Phone or Email, Donation Amount, Club Affiliation/Name.

Cheques should be made payable to: Health Partners International of Canada

Mailing address - Headquarters:

Health Partners International of Canada

3633 des Sources Boulevard, Suite 212

Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC H9B 2K4

All donations get a tax receipt and our eternal thanks. We also would like to offer our top three clubs (fundraisers) the opportunity to come on one day to our Oakville Distribution Centre and help us pack Humanitarian Medical Kits. Beyond this, HPIC is happy to connect individually with your club and offer more information on our mission and operation.

Happy to answer any questions. Please contact Dayana Gomez, Director of Philanthropy & Communications at dgomez@hpicanada.ca

Thank you for your remarkable support and for helping us action medical aid to Ukrainians in need.

Sincerely, Lois Brown, President, HPIC