June 2024
Dear Friends of Ukraine,
Freedom: It is the foundation on which democracies are built and without which they crumble. It is an existential right for which humans have fought since the beginning of recorded history. Without freedom, democracy cannot exist. Dreams cannot exist. Citizens cannot thrive.
On July 4, America’s Independence Day, we couldn’t help but think of the value and fragility of freedom. We couldn’t help but dwell on what it would feel like to have our hard-won independence ruthlessly attacked by a neighboring country: our children abducted, hospitals destroyed, cultural heritage bombed, our way of life threatened, our critical infrastructure leveled with the ground.
Thank you for supporting Ukraine and its citizens as they fight to preserve their country’s independence. Your help provides critical supplies to the brave Ukrainian Defenders and Medics fighting to preserve not only their country’s sovereignty, but every human’s right to freedom and principles of democracy.
Read on to learn about the aid we’ve recently delivered, our current campaign for water, Dine Out for Ukraine on July 25, and other news related to the work we do. And while you are at it, please fill out this brief Communications Survey to let us know what you think of this newsletter.
Let’s show Ukraine our support! Together we are stronger!
Natalie, Andriy, Ulana, and all of us at
Sunflower Seeds Ukraine
Spread Seeds of Help!
P.S. We do want to know what you think about our newsletter - please fill out this brief survey (less than 3 min) to help inform our future communications methods.
YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK: May 2024
During the month of May, we provided 391 Ukrainian defenders with 170 first-aid kits, 383 protective equipment items, 422 uniform components and 515 tactical gear items, including chest rigs, tactical pouches, duffel bags and backpacks. Standard issue Ukrainian defender gear weighs 77 pounds. The high-quality tactical gear we provide significantly lightens that load, improving defenders’ mobility and efficiency, reduces fatigue - and sometimes even saves lives. Thank you for making this help possible!
In preparation for the next shipment of aid in June, our supporters gathered at local breweries in Colorado, to help decorate solar panels at Crystal Springs Brewery in Louisville, and power up with live music by NaDiya Band at Avagadro’s Number in Ft. Collins. Then, volunteers from all over Colorado came out to help us pack 40 pallets of supplies bound for Ukraine. Watch this and this videos that capture the essence of what it means to be a part of this amazing team!
GIVE WATER TO UKRAINIANS IN NEED!
The barrage of missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian critical infrastructure, including electrical power plants and the water and filtration stations they supply, have left many Ukrainians without access to clean drinking water. The ongoing shelling is also polluting natural water sources, compounding the problem for both Defenders and civilians. We are addressing this crisis by supplying Ukrainians with personal water filters, Camelbacks, water tablets. These supplies are especially critical during the hot summer months, and become increasingly hard to find and buy in Ukraine. Click “Donate for Water!” to help!
Last year, we provided Ukrainians with 844 water-cleansing devices, including 340 water filtration systems and ~500 Camelbaks, worth more than $5,000. In addition, we implemented a number of humanitarian water projects to help affected civilians. This year our goal is to raise $10,000 more, providing 1,000 camelbacks and 200 water filters to Ukrainian defenders. With your help, we can meet our goal! $100 provides 10 Camelbaks, and $50 supplies 10 personal water filters. Please click on “Donate for Water!” to support this campaign.
DINE OUT FOR UKRAINE ON THURSDAY, JULY 25
Help us help Ukraine by dining at one of more than 20 participating Colorado restaurants, ice cream and coffee shops that have committed to donate a portion of the day’s proceeds to Sunflower Seeds Ukraine on July 25. This annual event is one of our biggest fundraisers and is an amazing way to pledge your support to the Ukrainian people while also supporting local businesses in Colorado. Make your lunch and dinner reservations today! A list of participating restaurants–with links to their websites–is available on the events page of our website.
TEAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: ULANA BIHUN
Meet Ulana, one of Sunflower Seeds Ukraine’s most dedicated team members. Ulana has done just about everything a volunteer can for our organization. These days, she oversees volunteer recruitment and coordination, helps plan events and fundraising efforts, and represents our organization at events.
When asked what she’d like people to know about Ukraine, Ulana says: “Support for Ukraine is something that must continue long into the future as towns and cities rebuild, as environmental impacts are remediated, and as Ukrainians (in-country and displaced) heal from trauma. Please continue to support Ukraine through donations and by encouraging leadership to stand by independent Ukraine.”
To read more about Ulana , go to our Patreon page, where we post longer profiles of our team members from around the world. There, you also can find exclusive behind-the-scenes videos that show how we get supplies where they’re needed and interviews with recipients of our aid at the front lines.
DID YOU KNOW?
When 33-year-old Ukrainian mountaineer Antonina Samoilova conquered two 8,000-meter mountains in one day—Everest and Lhotse—she set a record. Additionally, Antonina became the first Ukrainian woman in history to summit Everest three times. She dedicated this climb to fallen Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Hryanyk that died during the defense of Mariupol on May 8, 2022. At Everest’s summit, Samoilova raised a flag with the words: "Still fighting for freedom,” in tribute to her home country and to Hryanyk, who dreamed of climbing Everest one day. Read more here.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
Please forward this email to anyone who might be interested, or use this form to subscribe or unsubscribe. The web version of this and all previous newsletters is here. For more frequent updates about our work, please like our Facebook page, follow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and subscribe to our Youtube channel and Patreon page, browse our website for multiple ways to donate, or send us an email if you have any questions.
*Misspelling and lower-casing proper names in this newsletter are intentional and used as signs of disdain and disrespect. Similarly, uppercasing of words such as Defenders are intentional and used as signs of respect and appreciation.
Note: Sunflower Seeds Ukraine raises funds as an initiative of Ukrainians of Colorado, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations and gifts are tax deductible to the full extent allowed under IRS regulations and the U.S. law.
