The Story of Loss, Resilience, & Unbendable Commitment
Ukraine never sought to fight this war. Yet, the war has entered every inch, filled every breath, destroyed peace, and, for many, taken away hope. Disbelief, fear, betrayal, angst, loss, and more disbelief marked the early days of Russia’s unprovoked invasion. As we commemorate this dark anniversary today, we grieve the lives lost in this brutal war: the eyes that will never see, the hearts that will never beat. We ache for those who had to endure the unbearable. We bow to all who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Early Days
Sunflower of Peace has shipped medical aid to Ukrainian medics and humanitarian aid to most vulnerable Ukrainians since 2014. Though a small organization at that time, Sunflower of Peace was prepared to start shipping critical aid immediately. As the Russian forces marched toward Kyiv, Sunflower of Peace sent its first aid already on February 27 and March 3.
First Routes
First shipments went to Poland and Romania. We mobilized our pre-existing contacts to bring aid into Ukraine and deliver it by railroad to Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol (including Azovstal), Kyiv, and firstresponders in Bucha; to the very frontlines of the war and to areas adjacent to active combat. For the next several months, we continued to care for the most vulnerable in the occupied territories. Volunteers risked their lives to deliver prescription medication and critical supplies via boats into the hands of the elderly and chronically ill.
Growing Needs
Ukrainians, young and old, men and women, had to take arms to defend their land, their culture, independence, and freedom. Yesterday’s peace-loving sisters and professors, students and doctors, engineers and museum workers, farmers and entrepreneurs, who never desired to fight, became Ukraine’s heroic defenders. Indiscriminate shelling of the civilian areas and vicious offensive on the frontlines created grave need for tactical medicine, medical equipment, and humanitarian aid.
Incredible Support
The story of Sunflower of Peace this past year has been one of community, partnership, incredible teamwork, selflessness, and durable commitment. Hundreds of volunteers set aside their daily lives to empower Sunflower of Peace to do critical work. United by the shared mission to SAVE AS MANY LIVES AS POSSIBLE, community and volunteers have been the heart and engine of our operations.
Your generous donations, in the form of individual and corporate gifts, collected through numerous fundraisers – from lemonade stands to fashion galas – have empowered us to help better and reach farther.
Growth
WE GREW and so did the scope and the impact of our work. Working behind the scenes, our dedicated Board Members brought deep ties to Ukraine and professional expertise in finance, law, leadership, and communications. We benefit from the untiring work of our competent staff and amazing volunteer team members who lead our key initiatives in the United States and Ukraine. Today, Sunflower of Peace empowers medics all over Ukraine to save lives of Ukrainian defenders and provides medical and humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable civilians: the internally displaced, people with severe disabilities, children without parents, and seniors.
Vigilance
Transparency and Accountability are key principles of our work. An experienced anti-corruption attorney, based outside of Kviv, manages Sunflower of Peace operations in Ukraine and has established strict guidelines and monitoring procedures to ensure that our aid goes where intended.
Unbendable Commitment
Our existing programs aim to save and sustain the lives of Ukrainians affected by war. Recognizing the tremendous negative impact of the war on mental health, we are now developing new initiatives aimed to foster access to high-quality, trauma-informed psychological care for the gravely injured defenders, returned prisoners of war and their families, and to bolster psycho-social supports for the Ukrainian children.
THE FUTURE OF UKRAINE DEPENDS ON OUR ACTION TODAY.
Russia is rapidly expanding its offensive, gearing up to inflict more damage and destruction. The war goes on – but so do we.
Our commitment to saving the lives of Ukrainians is unbendable, just as the Ukrainian spirit is unbreakable.
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE OUR WORK
$10,000 will pay for a basic ambulance (or 11% of an armored ambulance, and 25% of an advanced medical evacuator)
$5,000 will pay for care packages for 62 families that had to flee their homes
$1,000 will pay for one backpack with critical life-saving supplies. Each backpack has materials to save 10-12 lives.
$500 will pay for 2 emergency anti-hypothermia blankets
$250 will pay for 11 tourniquets
$100 will pay for 11 6” Emergency abdominal trauma dressings
MAKE SUNFLOWER OF PEACE YOUR WAY TO HELP UKRAINE
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