How did we get here?

 

February 2022

We watched in horror as we received the news that Ukraine had been invaded. Shalika, who grew up in Kyiv and whose parents and brother were living there at the time, knew she had to do something. She immediately started asking for donations and vetting small projects that she could help fund - mostly focused on supplies for soldiers and evacuating families.

Spring 2022

Shalika and Devon hosted a small bake sale featuring Ukrainian treats in their garage in Ames. People loved the idea and wanted to support Ukrainians, so we decided to recreate the bake sale a couple weeks later in Des Moines. This was when we set up the nonprofit and formed a board. We continued vetting and funding small projects as we raised funds.

 

Summer 2022

As we met more people interested in helping, we expanded the board and held a third bake sale. Even more projects were funded in Ukraine. Simultaneously Ukrainians began arriving in Iowa through the Uniting for Ukraine program. We built a website with a resource library for these families and got involved in helping welcome them to Iowa.

Fall 2022

We hosted our first ever Sunflower Gala and started funding a whole new set of projects, primarily focusing on keeping families and soldiers warm as we transition into what will be a very cold winter in Ukraine.

 

Winter 2022-2023

Over the Christmas holiday, we raised funds for a small project to distribute 100 care packages for the elderly in Ukraine. Shortly afterward we started planning our first ever resource fair here in Iowa to welcome new Ukrainians to the area and learn more about the many resources Iowa has to offer.

Learn more about what we’re doing in Ukraine and Iowa

 

 In Ukraine

Check out our projects page to learn about all the projects we’re funding in Ukraine.

In Iowa

Check out our volunteer page to learn how you can help in Iowa. If you’re a Ukrainian looking for resources here in Iowa, go to our resources page.

“If we can, we must.”

— Shalika

 Meet Our Board

  • Shalika

    President

  • Kayla

    Vice President

  • Devon

    Treasurer

  • Silas

    Secretary

  • Katie

    Governance

  • Julia

    Operations

  • Eugenia

    Outreach