A crowd of people in Prague display a Ukrainian flag as they watch the 'Save Ukraine – Stop War' concert  in 2022.

Social service nonprofits responded immediately. They organized emergency housing, connected refugees with schools and healthcare, helped families navigate government services and distributed food and other basic necessities. In the first weeks of the crisis, those nonprofits relied on volunteers and existing community networks to meet urgent needs.

Originally published on theconversation.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.