The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has donated $4 million to two relief organizations to help Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s invasion of their country.
The Utah-based faith gave $2 million each to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Programme (WFP), according to a news release.
The donation to the U.N. refugee agency will help an estimated 40,000 families. It will be used to supply items like blankets, solar lanterns, tents and shelters.
“This is going to go to those in need on the ground in Ukraine and neighboring countries right away,” Lacey Stone, the U.S. director of private-sector engagement and partnerships for the agency, said in the release. “Latter-day Saint Charities [the church’s humanitarian arm] has been providing relief and comfort to refugees for decades. And we just want to say how grateful and appreciative we are.”
The gift to the WFP will provide food for about 11,000 people for four months. The organization’s goal is to reach more than 3 million people inside Ukraine, and it is working with the U.N. to assist 2.5 million people who have fled the nation.
WFP teams are leading emergency telecommunications and logistics on behalf of the United Nations.
“As the world watches the heartbreaking events in Ukraine unfold, I am still able to find moments of hope because dedicated organizations like Latter-day Saint Charities chose to step up and support refugees during their greatest time of need,” said Anne-Marie Grey, U.S. CEO of the U.N. agency. “This emergency gift ensures that families fleeing the horrific violence in Ukraine will continue to receive the care and shelter they need after harrowing journeys. … It shows families fleeing that there is still a compassionate global community ready to help.”
Latter-day Saint Charities gave $2 million to the World Food Programme in 2020 to help the organization establish “food hubs” around the globe to get supplies more quickly to those in need during the pandemic.