Two Warwick  real estate brokers are creating an easy way for people to donate to relief efforts in Ukraine. Arthur Yatsko from Salisbury Real Estate Agency, located on Post Road,  and Dean deTonnancourt from HomeSmart Professional Real Estate on Quaker Lane  will hold charity open house events on March 26 and 27 where attendees can donate to three charities.

“This whole thing is awful. These people are leaving their homes forced out and they’re dying. It seemed like the least we could do,” said Yatsko.

Yatsko said Salisbury Real Estate would match any donation made by check. Both Yatsko and deTonnancourt will have QR codes at open houses that can be scanned to make a donation.

 deTonnancourt, who works with 230 agents, informed his agents of the charity open house efforts. The expectation is for agents conducting an open house to spread awareness and gain donations.

Yatsko looked into each charity to make sure the funds went to the people in need and not the administrators. He picked Doctors Without Borders, International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

“They passed with flying colors,” Yatsko said.

Depending on the response from the upcoming charity event, Yatsko hopes to reach out to have real estate companies sign off on the challenge and see about having future open house charity events on future weekends to support Ukrainian refugees. Yatsko’s open house this weekend will be at 11 Grotto Ave., in Warwick from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. 

 “We're making it easy for folks who are lucky enough to be looking for housing to help out those who are losing theirs,” Yatsko said. 

Which organization to donate to?

Doctors Without Borders provides medical assistance to people who need it the most. The organization cares for individuals affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, natural and human-made disasters and exclusion from health care in more than 70 countries. According to Doctors Without Borders, 85 percent of donated funds go toward programs bringing medical care directly to those who need it; 14 percent of donations go toward fundraising that supports the organization’s work; 1 percent of donations go to management and general expenses to cover administration.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) ensures protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence. Individuals can donate directly to the Ukraine crisis, and these funds will help ICRC water engineers and doctors to “help more than 3 million people access clean water and improve the living conditions of more than 66,000 whose homes have been damaged by heavy fighting.”

The United Nations Children’s Fund works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights and help them fulfill their potential from childhood to adolescence. Donations will aim to help Ukraine's children access to safe water, nutrition, health care, education and protection. According to the organization’s website, less than three percent of funds go to administrative costs.