January 2026
Dear Friends of Ukraine,
Ukrainian resolve is astounding. The country is nearing the four-year mark of unprovoked aggression by a much larger and well-resourced aggressor, and still, its people fight on. How are Ukrainian civilians and Defenders not just surviving but keeping up the fight? Freedom from tyranny is their fuel; innovation is their secret weapon; history is their teacher; capitulation is not an option.
They cannot give in, and neither will we. During this year’s Holiday Giving Campaign (HGC), you showed us that your resolve also is stronger than ever. Thanks to the generosity of 510 donors, we raised $172,857, exceeding our HGC goal by more than $20,000. The Sunflower Seeds Ukraine community of supporters came together to ensure we can provide essential aid well into 2026.
Read on to learn more about how your contributions were spent in 2025, the volunteers who power the Sunflower Seeds Ukraine engine, and the significance of Ukraine’s Day of Unity (January 22nd) — a living testament to the nation’s enduring will.
Thank you for making a difference.
Together we are stronger!
Natalie, Andriy, Slava, Ulana, Kyle and all of us at
Sunflower Seeds Ukraine
Spread Seeds of Help!
P.S. To read longer versions of our news stories, visit the blog on our website, where you also can learn more about upcoming events and volunteering opportunities.
YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK: YEAR 2025
As we begin the new year of our dedicated work to save the lives and strengthen the resolve of Ukrainian Defenders, we would like to reflect on what was accomplished over the past 12 months. In 2025, more than 5,000 Ukrainian defenders received over 20,000 items from our team in Ukraine, including: 2,080 individual first-aid kits, 6,639 pieces of protective equipment item such as earmuffs, 7,484 backpacks and field gear items, 4,801 uniforms and boots, 1,273 binoculars and optical devices, and 432 other items including drone detectors.
Watch this 2025 report video to learn more and see photos of some of the recipients and the gear they received.
We wish we could start 2026 with a new request — working together to help Ukraine rebuild and recover. But for now, we must continue to help those who defend the sovereign country they call their home. Thanks to your strong support of our Holiday Giving Campaign, we will continue to provide assistance to Ukrainian Defenders who reach out to us for help. We are immensely grateful for every donation you made, and to every volunteer who shared their time and energy with us.
JOIN US FOR LIVE MUSIC THIS WEEK!
Sunflower Seeds Ukraine proudly co-presents YAGÓDY with Boulder's Dairy Art Center on January 14 and 15, 2026 at 7:30. Ukrainian resilience and fortitude comes in many forms, including through maintaining, reviving, and creating Ukrainian culture. The Ukrainian Folk Band YAGÓDY, kicks off their 2026 US tour with two nights at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder, Colorado! Celebrated for their “primal energy” (Chicago Reader, March 2025) and hypnotic vocal harmonies, this quartet blends ethno-ritual performances with feminine resilience for a “dynamic and contemporary” (Minneapolis Star Tribune) experience.
Please come enjoy this talented band! Purchase your tickets today.
December was packed with ample opportunity to gather in support of Ukraine. On December 6th, hundreds of people came to the annual Ukrainian Christmas Market, sponsored by Ukrainians of Colorado. The following weekend, Sunflower Seeds Ukraine supporters gathered at three events throughout the Front Range. On Saturday, December 13, more than 30 volunteers sorted and loaded 40 pallets with field gear for Defenders, as well as 170 decommissioned solar panels to provide clean power to Kharkiv Polytechnic University, located near the front lines. On the same day in Boulder, more than 60 people at the Solar Chargers for Ukraine at Fairview High School in Boulder converted and decorated 50 solar panels that will deliver much-needed charging capability to schools and villages across Ukraine.
The weekend closed out with “Sharing the Light,” a concert fundraiser for Ukraine on Sunday, December 14 at the Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Lafayette. Four musical groups, speakers and other performers donated their time and talent to help us raise more than $8,000 for our Holiday Giving Campaign. Thank you to all the organizers, artists, supporters and volunteers filled December with cause, meaning and heart.
TEAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: NADIA GAVRILENKO
Meet Nadia, a SFSU volunteer who helps run events in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she lives. Nadia was born in Ukraine and moved to the United States when she was 8 years old. Helping Ukrainian Defenders is her personal mission: “I have a stake in protecting my homeland and its future,” she says. “I care deeply about democracy and human freedom, and Ukraine’s fight today represents both.”
Nadia was first introduced to SFSU by her sister and says the direct approach of its action-oriented team drew her to become a volunteer. “That combination of practical impact, trusted relationships, and genuinely dedicated people is what makes Sunflower Seeds Ukraine stand out.”
In September 2025, Nadia traveled to Ukraine with her father, where she witnessed how life goes on in the midst of war. “The most unsettling part was how desensitized people had become to the sirens,” she explains. “But they were incredibly grateful for U.S. support, which left a lasting impact on me.”
Nadia says she’s been moved by how SFSU supporters care, donate, and show up for the people of Ukraine. “Our supporters are the reason thousands of Defenders can keep fighting for something they should never have had to fight for in the first place — their land, their heritage, their culture, and their freedom.”
To read more about Nadia and other SFSU team members, go to our Patreon page. There, you can also subscribe to get exclusive interviews with recipients of our aid from the front lines and behind-the-scenes videos about our work.
A LOOK BACK: THE ORIGINS OF UKRAINE’S DAY OF UNITY (1/22)
For too long, narratives have obscured a foundational truth: Ukraine is a nation that forged its unity not by accident, but by conscious choice and strategic necessity. And the heart of that truth since 1918-1919 beats on January 22nd, Ukraine’s Day of Unity, or Den Sobornosti. This day isn't just a historical footnote – it’s a living testament to a nation's enduring will.
Read our blog to learn more about the history of Den Sobornosti.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
Please forward this email to anyone who might be interested, or use this form to manage your communication preferences. 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, and subscribe to our Youtube channel and Patreon page. Browse our website for multiple ways to help, or send us an email if you have any questions.
*The misspelling and lower casing of proper names like ‘russia’ in this newsletter is intentional and used as signs of disdain and disrespect. Similarly, the uppercasing of words such as ‘Defenders’ is intentional and used as a sign of respect and appreciation.
Note: Sunflower Seeds Ukraine is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 99-3371103) registered in the state of Colorado, in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service. Donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by U.S. law.
