TORONTO – The COVID-19 Children’s Relief Initiative was launched on May 20 as an online appeal to provide support to children in Ukraine in need of basic supplies during the coronavirus pandemic.

Almost 100,000 children in Ukraine were living in government-run residential institutions or rehabilitation centers prior to the quarantine announced on March 11. In an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus, approximately 50,000 children were sent home to their biological families, many of whom are unable to provide or care for them.