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Amid the Russian invasion, hundreds of thousands of Ukraine citizens are suffering, displaced from their homes and, in many cases, fighting for their lives. The European Union estimates that nearly 4 million people may try to flee the country in the coming days. In the light of such tragedy, many Americans are looking for ways to support Ukrainians from the U.S. Fortunately, a lot of organizations are accepting donations for doctors, families, journalists, and more to help Ukraine.
Even some brands and retailers are stepping up in support of the people of Ukraine. Take Etsy, for instance. Known for its handmade, artisan products, the popular online marketplace is offering shoppers a way to donate directly to Ukraine citizens by purchasing completely digital assets. Here’s how you can help the country—and upgrade your home decor—with just a few clicks.
Etsy is waiving all seller fees for Ukraine citizens.
First, to help Ukrainians financially, Etsy announced it will waive all balances for Ukraine-based sellers. “Being part of a community means that when one part is suffering, the rest of us must step up and offer our support,” Etsy CEO Josh Silverman wrote in a recent blog post. According to Etsy, it is waiving a total of around $4 million in fees, which includes listing, advertising, and transaction fees.
How to Support Ukraine on Etsy
If you want to directly contribute to Ukraine citizens,
- Search “digital files” on Etsy.com.
- Click the “All Filters” button and scroll down to “Country.”
- Under “Custom,” enter Ukraine.
The results will include all digital files created and sold by Ukraine-based Etsy sellers. Once you purchase an item, the file will immediately become available for download. The transaction allows Ukrainian sellers to earn money without having to produce anything new during this tough time.
Digital downloads include wall decor and crochet patterns.
Once you filter your results to include only Ukraine-based Etsy sellers, you’ll find a variety of digital downloads available. If you’re looking for home decor, you can shop printable wall art, from watercolor landscapes to abstract designs. If knitting, crocheting, or cross-stitch are more your speed, plenty of Ukraine-based sellers offer digital patterns to download and print. You can even snag coloring book pages, journal pages, clip art, and Cricut files.
Other Etsy shops are donating to Ukraine.
Digital downloads aren’t the only way to contribute financially to Ukrainians—Etsy has also created a Ukraine landing page dedicated solely to the cause. The storefront features a range of Ukraine stickers, sweatshirts, T-shirts, and more that allow you to show your support for the Ukraine people.
There are a handful of Etsy sellers that are also donating a portion of proceeds from Ukraine-inspired products to non-profit organizations that help Ukrainian refugees, like the UNHCR. Some Ukraine citizens have even created donation-only pages, using Etsy as a vehicle to receive financial aid.