Five charities

Charit ies

HELPING UKRAINE

moregreat causes d F i n

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, fi ve million people have fl ed the country but 18 million people are thought to be affected by the confl ict. You can help by donating to these amazing charities

MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES

The doctors without borders have been tested by the severity, scale and speed of the war in Ukraine but say the medical system it’s supporting is ‘robust and its capacity to rise to the challenge is impressive’. It’s getting emergency medical supplies (225 metric tonnes so far) into the country, for trauma patients and those with diseases. Donations also fund special hospital trains transporting MSF medics close to the front line and mass casualty training at hospitals across Ukraine. msf.org.u

DISASTERS EMERGENCY COMMITTEE

If you aren’t sure which charity to donate to then choose the Disasters Emergency Committee. It partners with 15 top aid charities, including the British Red Cross, International Rescue Committee, Oxfam and Save the Children, funnelling money to where it needs to be in this fast-moving humanitarian crisis. DEC charities are in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries meeting the needs of the refugees arriving daily. A donation of £30 could provide essential hygiene supplies for three people for one month, £50 could provide blankets for four families and £100 could provide emergency food for two families for one month. dec.org.uk

WORLD JEWISH RELIEF

The British Jewish community’s humanitarian agency, World Jewish Relief, supports the world’s poorest Jewish communities. Its 29 partners across Ukraine are struggling to protect their communities in the face of active confl ict. Through them, it is responding to urgent humanitarian needs, prioritising food, cash, medical, material, and psychological support for those fl eeing homes or unable to escape violence. worldjewishrelief.org

UNICEF

The UN’s children’s charity says more than half of Ukraine’s 7.5 million children have been forced to fl ee the violence, as homes, schools, water supplies and hospitals have been damaged or destroyed, and many have been separated from their families. UNICEF has teams in Poland, Moldova, Belarus, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Czech Republic working to provide humanitarian aid for children and families on the move. Working with regional governments and the UNHCR, UNICEF has created 17 Blue Dot safe spaces for children and women. These provide key information, psychosocial support, water and sanitation supplies, and help in identifying and protecting lone children. unicef.org.uk

REFUGEASE

A donation towards this charity’s emergency fund for Ukraine will support its efforts at the border, including transport and logistics, purchasing aid and supporting future projects as the crisis develops. Sending aid from the UK is expensive and slow to get there, but you can purchase desperately needed aid items for Ukrainian refugees from RefugEase’s Digital Aid Shop and your items will be distributed immediately to the people who need it most. refugease.org

Stat e of nat ural

WONDERS

Starting this June, British Airways will fl y direct to Portland from Heathrow fi ve days per week, making the state of Oregon a much easier place to get to. Find out how to unlock the grand vistas and urban secrets of this magnifi cent state

SAHALIE FALLS

Get in touch with our team of experts to book a trip to Oregon, whether it’s a city and coast combination, a hiking and biking tour or a winter sports break. charitable.travel/ oregon

Nestled in America’s Pacifi c Northwest, understated Oregon is often overlooked in favour of its southern neighbour, but its natural attractions – towering rock formations, verdant forests, dramatic river valleys, snow-capped peaks, windswept beaches and rolling vineyards – are anything but modest.

Add to that a choice of historic towns, cute fi shing villages, mountain resorts and one of America’s hippest cities, and you might start to wonder why Oregon isn’t being talked about more. However, the lack of crowds only adds to this state’s appeal and ensure that peace and solitude are never out of reach.

HIP URBAN HUB

Portland is not just your gateway to this immense state. Once you visit, you’ll understand that this city has a unique spirit. It is a hipster hotspot, with accolades for its cuisine, vibrant arts scene, great theatres and funky shopping districts. There are no less than six distilleries and a new crop of urban wineries producing inside the city limits, and that paired with over 500 food carts dotted around the city will keep your taste buds coming back for more. Eco-friendly is the norm in Portland, where bikes are the favoured way of seeing the sights, from the shimmering city lights to the leafy squares and parks and picturesque riverfront.

EPIC VISTAS

Wherever you roam in Oregon, natural wonders abound. The perfect circle of Crater Lake (a national park) in southern Oregon is the deepest in the USA (at 1,943 feet) but despite its mesmerising views, it remains uncrowded and unspoilt. Located in the north-eastern corner of the state, Hells Canyon is the deepest river-carved gorge in North America (7,913 feet) and you’ll catch

NEWPORT LIGHTHOUSE

OREGON HAS MORE SCENIC BYWAYS THAN ANY OTHER STATE

© hood-gorg.com

Get in touch with our team of experts to book a trip to Oregon, whether it’s a city and coast combination, a hiking and biking tour or a winter sports break. charitable.travel/ oregon

A NATIVE AMERICAN POW-WOW VIEW OF MOUNT HOOD

© Kenji Sugahara your breath as you gaze at the blue Snake River winding through the velvet green hills. Interested in geology? The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is one of the richest fossil bed sites in the world and Oregon Caves National Monument is naturally carved in an outcrop of solid marble. Is adventure calling? Smith Rock towers above central Oregon and lures climbers from around the globe for the challenge of conquering its craggy heights. The less adrenaline-fuelled amongst you can hike around its base and still enjoy exceptional views. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, which runs from the mouth of the Sandy River to the mouth of the Deschutes River, includes gorgeous waterfall hikes and scenic cycling on the Historic Columbia River Highway. Thirty miles south of the Columbia River, Mount Hood has fi ve ski areas, and the state has a further seven downhill ski areas – all-in-all 400 trails over three ranges, offering bountiful options for all abilities. Water-based activities are always an option in a state with 6,000 lakes, 112,000 miles of rivers and streams and 363 miles of coastline. Try standup paddle boarding on sapphire lakes or kayaking through canyons or along the Pacifi c coastline. On the ocean you can catch your own Dungeness crab, watch for whales, seals and puffi ns, or just make footprints in the sand. And if you want to stick to the road, a trip down Highway 101 is a great way to see Oregon’s historic lighthouses.

HIT THE ROAD

Oregon is blessed with 29 designated Scenic Byways, more than any other state in the USA. Accommodating varying interests, the state has divided the options into All-American Roads, Oregon State Scenic Byways, Tour Routes and National Scenic Byways and an interactive online map helps you create your perfect roadtrip. You can go your own way but Oregon has hundreds of licensed guides and operators who will help you get the best out of the state. Most offer themed tours but some let you customise your own itinerary. Maybe you want to taste Oregon’s bountiful produce? Try a farm-to-fork tour or go behind the scenes at a local brewery or winery with a guide who can be the designated driver. Want to get outside? Taking a naturalist-led hike or kayak tour can help you better understand the environment you’re travelling through. If you’re looking for thrills, book a whitewater rafting trip or ride a mountain bike down one of Oregon’s famous single-track trails. Whatever piques your interest, there’s an Oregon guide waiting to show you their incredible state.

FIND YOURSELF in Flor id

Charitable Travel’s Travel Insider Podcasts (TIPs) has been hanging out in the Sunshine State and you’re invited too. This is Florida, but not as you know it…

Hosted by the editor of Charitable Traveller Magazine, Laura Gelder, each episode of TIPs will transport you from wherever you are – whether it’s your comfi est armchair or a crowded commuter train – to somewhere that will inspire you.

In our latest episode, available to listen to now, we whisk you away to Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. It’s a part of Florida’s Gulf Coast which has an old time feel but a very modern outlook, especially when it comes to sustainability.

Local lor e

We chat to Kelly Clark from the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Board and Ed Chiles, a restauranteur, keen fi sherman and sustainability expert – both long time locals who know all the best places to watch the sunset, grab a coffee or cocktail and look for wildlife.

Find out why the Bradenton area’s seafood is so special, get the lowdown on the local one-of-a-kind accommodation and hear about Anna Maria Island’s gorgeous powdery beaches and quirky shops and eateries.

Next departure Keep an eye out for our next TIPs episodes too, including another slice of retro America as we tread the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and lots of craic as we fl it across to our neighbours on the Emerald Isle.

Listen, foll ow and subscrib e - wherever you get you r podcasts