Over the past months, the people of Ireland have opened their homes, donated clothing and other goods to those in need, and welcomed with open arms the Ukrainian people who have fled their country as the war in Ukraine continues. But it’s easy to still feel helpless as we watch the devastation unfold from afar. A number of initiatives have been set up in aid of the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis, and we’ve come across one that everyone can get involved with.

Sow Now began when Tetiana Pankiv (39) and her three daughters Sofia (16), Marta (15) and Yana (5) fled their beloved home in Lviv in Western Ukraine, not knowing where to go. Arriving in Ireland, she was relieved to have gotten her children to safety but Tetiana like so many other Ukrainian refugees suffered a huge sense of guilt and helplessness leaving those she loved most behind in what she described as “hell on earth”. When an Irish family offered Tetiana and her daughters a home, they were so grateful but were left feeling helpless thinking about the family members and friends they had left behind – and this is how the idea for Sow Now came about. With the help of Tetiana’s host and now beloved friend Jacqui Nabb, and many other Irish entrepreneurs across the country, Tetiana and Jacqui were able to set up the Sow Now initiative, a sunflower seed fundraiser to support her fellow Ukrainian men, women, and children through the work of the Irish Red Cross.

What started out as a small sunflower seed fundraiser from a kitchen table in Tullow, county Carlow has become a national initiative created to provide necessary support for the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis and helping Ukrainian families settle into the community. Sow Now want every Ukrainian to know that we stand with them through this devastating time. The aim of the campaign is to encourage everyone in the country to purchase sunflower seeds and plant them by May 19, the Ukrainian Vyshyvanka day (a holiday that aims to preserve the original folk traditions of creating and wearing traditional embroidered Ukrainian clothes called ‘vyshyvanka’) with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to the Irish Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. You can purchase your seeds from your local Supervalu or Centra outlets from next Friday April 29. Packs will be €5 each and Tetiana and Jacqui hope to be able to raise €500,000. The money will be used to repair vital infrastructure, support health facilities with medicines and equipment, and support families with food and hygiene items.

The sunflower has become a worldwide symbol of solidarity and peace amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Sow Now wants sunflowers to bloom in every village, every home, and every business as a powerful symbol of our support, and as an invitation for sincere integration into our communities. They hope these flowers will be a small reminder of home and an assurance of safety and friendship as so many Ukrainian men, women and children arrive in Ireland.

Sow Now is in need of volunteers to help fulfil the order of 100,000 sunflower seed packets on time. Sow Now needs teams of five people to commit just four hours of their time on April 23 to help pack the 5grm packs of sunflower seeds in Tullow. “We are calling on all families, businesses, clubs, schools and anyone willing to lend a hand to come together to support the efforts of Sow Now to ensure everyone across the country can get their seeds in time for May 19”, said Sow Now co-founder Jacqui Nabb. To register your interest and be part of this incredible community appeal on April 23 in Tullow, county Carlow, follow this link: https://rb.gy/iv9nx3. 

Follow Sow Now on Facebook and Instagram. Share your sunflower pictures using #SowNow.