FEATURE STORY
TRAVEL
HUMANITARIAN SERVICES FOR UKRAINE SAN DIEGO STEPS UP
BY DONALD H. HARRISON
J
ewish San Diegans have been involved in providing humanitarian services to Ukrainian refugees almost every step of their frightened journeys. They have helped Ukrainians get to safety across the border of their war-torn country. They have made sure that the refugees and their pets were healthy enough to continue their journeys after exiting Ukraine. And, they have assisted Ukrainians and disaffected Russians who crossed into the United States from Mexico to find temporary shelter in San Diego en route to their ultimate American destinations. Additionally, such organizations as the Jewish Federation of San Diego County and the Jewish Community Foundation are sending money onto international partners to help pay for food, supplies, and other necessities for some of the millions of people who have been displaced by the war launched against Ukraine by 18
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2022
the Russian government of Vladimir Putin. As of mid-April the Jewish Community Foundation had directed $3.1 million in grants to 55 different organizations supporting the Ukrainian relief effort, according to Ollie Benn, the Foundation’s philanthropy director. On April 25, the Jewish Federation of San Diego County reported it had raised $528,400 in support of Ukraine relief efforts. There appeared to be nearly universal sympathy in the Jewish community for the Ukrainian people led by their Jewish president Volodomyr Zelensky. Getting Ukrainians under attack to safety across the border has been one of the priorities of the Leichtag Foundation since war seemed inevitable. Charlene Seidle, Leichtag’s executive vice president, told a reporter for eJewish Philanthropy, that the Encinitasbased Jewish philanthropy has donated hundreds of thousands of
