Sunflower F.U.N.D. heading toward Ukraine with aid

Two years following the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, the political climate has largely changed.

Currently, the U.S. Senate is holding negotiations on the next round of aid to the Ukraine as a new conflict in the Middle East has forced the U.S. to weigh priorities.

On the ground, the commitment to funding Ukrainian aid by local Anacortes-based nonprofit Sunflower F.U.N.D. has been unwavering.

As of early January, two of the F.U.N.D.’s members are on the ground in Europe with a vehicle they intend to pack to the brim with humanitarian supplies with their sights set on Ukraine.

One of those members is the nonprofit’s founder Marketa Vorel. As a Czech-American who once fled the totalitarianism found behind Russia’s iron curtain, Vorel is no stranger to Moscow aggression.

She is also no stranger to being on the ground in Ukraine amidst Russia’s invasion, having gone last year to establish a network of nonprofits and partners which laid the foundation for the Sunflower F.U.N.D.

“The closer I’m getting to Ukraine and it just feels like I never left, which is making me realize on a personal level that my mind has been here the whole time,” Vorel said. “... It all feels very familiar, very (much like) home.”

Vorel is joined by Sunflower F.U.N.D. volunteer Michelle Miller on this trip, much to Vorel’s elation, as she previously went to Ukraine last year on a solo trip.

“I just felt a calling to be part of this mission,” said Miller, who has a background in contracting as a medical provider in combat zones such as Afghanistan and Iraq. “And as I’ve volunteered for the last six, eight months now, the need is even more.”

The duo landed in Germany to begin their journey to Ukraine in the early days of January, where they picked up a vehicle which was sponsored by donations from local Anacortes nonprofits such as the Anacortes Rotary, the Soroptimist International of Anacortes, the Fidalgo Animal Medical Center, and more, according to Vorel.

The two will collect additional humanitarian supplies in Poland to be delivered to Sunflower F.U.N.D. partner organizations in Ukraine during the coming days.

“The Sunflower F.U.N.D. is delivering critical aid to Ukraine’s civilians and their defenders at a time when Ukraine’s plight is slipping from the headlines,” Vorel said. “The fund’s mission goes beyond delivering direct financial support to alleviate the suffering of the Ukrainian people. It also aims to keep their plight in the forefront of our political discourse.”

Currently, the duo estimates the amount of ground they’ve covered in Europe to be roughly 650 miles and expect to arrive in Ukraine in the coming days. They will traverse icy roads and mountainous terrain on their humanitarian mission to Ukraine.

Heading into a conflict zone is not lost on the two, who are both aware of increased bombing campaigns and new offensives by Russia in Ukraine.

“They have endured unimaginable, nonstop hardship for nearly two years now, as Putin embarks on another punishing bombardment campaign across Ukraine,” Vorel said.

“We’re not reckless, but again, it’s everyday life for these kids and for Ukrainians. I’m just a visitor,” Miller added.

The Sunflower F.U.N.D. has previously boasted delivery of funding and aid from donors to organizations in Ukraine within 24 hours. With their boots on the ground, Vorel contends that commitment has not changed.

“We really depend on recurrent donations,” Vorel said of the nonprofit.

One of the partners in Ukraine the two Anacortes residents intend to deliver aid to is the Path Home Women’s and Children Shelter, which is based in Odessa and has supported women and children displaced and harmed by Russia’s invasion.

According to Vorel, the Sunflower F.U.N.D. is already funding several projects for the shelter, including replacements for their plumbing system and a well system for their entire village after they lost running water for weeks.

The Sunflower F.U.N.D. will also visit their three other partner organizations, which includes Piatykhatki Bam, an evacuation and humanitarian relief organization, Vivakot, an armed forces aid foundation, and the Maidan Monitoring Information Center which documents war crimes and resists totalitarianism.

“Basically, we are operating on the same principle of funding what our partners need the most,” Vorel said. “Our presence may bring more issues to the forefront as we will be able to see the need for ourselves.”

“We will continue responding to the need of our partners,” she said.

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