It started as a small fundraiser.

But an initiative to sow sunflowers in gardens across the country in support of the Irish Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal has bloomed into a nationwide campaign.

Sow Now is asking everyone in the country to purchase sunflower seeds and plant them by May 19th, Vyshyvanka Day, which celebrates Ukrainian folk traditions.

You can purchase your seeds from your local SuperValu or Centra outlets from April 29th, when packs will be available at €5 each in the hopes of raising €500,000.

 

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Sow Now began when Tetiana Pankiv (39) and her three daughters Sofia (16), Marta (15), and Yana (5) fled their home in Lviv in Western Ukraine, not knowing where to go. Arriving in Ireland, where they were offered a home with an Irish family, Tetiana was relieved to have brought her children to safety but felt a huge sense of guilt and helplessness about leaving those she loved most behind.

With the help of Tetiana’s host and friend Jacqui Nabb and many other Irish entrepreneurs across the country, she set up the Sow Now Initiative, a sunflower seed fundraiser to support her fellow Ukrainians through the work of the Irish Red Cross.

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 in Ireland as a powerful symbol of support, and as an invitation for sincere integration into our communities.

“This is an incredible initiative in support of the Irish Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal – and is another example of the profound empathy and support that people throughout Ireland have shown for the millions of Ukrainians whose lives have been so profoundly impacted by the ongoing conflict,” said Charlie Lamson, Head of fundraising with the Irish Red Cross.

The money will be used to repair vital infrastructure, support health facilities with medicines and equipment, and support families with food and hygiene items.