Bethenny Frankel is doing whatever she can for the people of Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of their land.
As she works with her team at the BStrong initiative and through her new partnership with the Global Empowerment Mission, the former Real Housewives of New York City star has pledged a whopping $10 million in aid, including food and medical supplies, as she focuses on getting help to those in need and donating millions more to help relocate the displaced population.
During an interview on TMZ Live on March 1, Bethenny explained that after offering aid to the locations of previous disasters, including the tropical storms that ravaged Texas and the devastating wildfires in Australia, she’s developed a “skillset.”
“It’s not that different than business, you know, to be lean, efficient, and get things done,” Bethenny shared. “You’ve got to get in, assess what’s going on, figure out what the needs are… I have all these relationships and this experience. And each time, it’s a different need. But the way you handle it is the same: Be there first. Figure out what the needs are and then come up with what your mandate is [for] each disaster.”
According to Bethenny, she has a warehouse in Florida that’s filled with $16 million in aid, $10 million of which will be sent to Ukraine — thanks to donations to her BStrong charity.
“We were coordinating logistics and trucking and that will be aid going into Ukraine because don’t forget, they’re out of medical supplies. They’re running out of food. It’s really bad there,” Bethenny revealed. “And you don’t just dump it there. You have to make sure it’s through trusted channels. You have to make sure that you’re going into the right places where it’s really needed.”
As for what additional donations will be going to, Bethenny said on TMZ Live, “You’re not paying for the $10 million in aid that will go into Ukraine. That’s in our warehouse. What you’re paying for is the relocation to not overload a country that’s taking in people in droves.”
Bethenny has raised over $5 million in additional funds for Ukrainians and continues to receive donations every three seconds for relocations.
Although Bethenny and her team are hard at work, the RHONY alum revealed she’s feeling fearful for those unsure of their fate amid Ukraine’s tensions with Russia.
“I’m very scared,” Bethenny admitted. “These poor people not knowing their fate. That’s an unfathomable fear [and] anxiety…”
She also took to Twitter to request help from Airbnb as she aims to give shelter to those fleeing the violent attacks.
“How many homes can [Airbnb] donate to [B Strong] relocation program?” Bethenny asked. “We have 100 case workers dedicated to matching refugees with homes”
Bethenny was featured on The Real Housewives of New York City from seasons one through three and from seven to 11.
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