HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORS DURING THE WAR?

Now, every call to help an old lady get bread is spread across hundreds of chats. As a result, many people end up wasting their time and bringing 150 loaves of bread to an address. At the same time, someone in the next apartment might be able to help if they knew about the lady’s presence and her request.

So, to help your neighbors, follow these tips:

·       Get to know each other and team up. Check out the neighborhood, exchange phone numbers with your neighbors, or create a shared chat. Stay in touch with your neighbors to be able to respond quickly and cohesively to threats and to get emotional support.

·       Find out if anyone needs support, food, or medicine. Assign volunteers to specific apartments and compile a list. The designated people will be in charge of visiting and helping those who need it most.

·       Set common safety rules. Take turns checking the entrance and the roof of the house for any suspicious marks, posters on the doors left by looters, or explosive devices. Also, make sure to regularly empty the dumpster near the house, as public services may operate intermittently, and a pile of garbage on the street may indicate that the owners are away, provoking looters.

·       If possible, arrange a shelter in your building. During active hostilities, people have to stay in shelters for several days or even weeks, so make sure to keep mattresses, warm clothes, blankets, water and food supplies, a first aid kit, hygiene items, a radio, power banks, and flashlights in your common space.

Now, your home is your main fortress, and your neighbors are your allies. You should first support each other and then collect supplies or prepare food for the territorial defense units.

HOW TO TEAM UP WITH OTHERS AND OPTIMIZE EFFORTS?

Collectively, we can accomplish much more. It is easier to order, bring, and divide a large batch of necessary items on site. This will save time and help to allocate volunteer resources more efficiently. Look for like-minded people on social media, set up chats with them, and share your needs and available supplies. You can find fellow volunteers through volunteer chats in your city.

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ON VOLUNTEERING?

Get involved in volunteering through your local organizations. To do this, go to the Volunteer Platform, filter opportunities by location, and join the area that interests you most.