In 3-4 sentences, why do YOU do this work? (What’s YOUR WHY?) What really moves you to do what you do? “Having been born into a family with a single mother and raised by my grandparents, I’ve always had a huge heart for single-parent households and seniors. Our non-profit focused on serving them from the beginning 22 years ago. My mother married a wonderful man when I was younger, and he passed away last October; my grandfather who raised me passed away this summer. In less than a year, my mother and grandmother both became widows – opening my eyes to the deep needs of this often-overlooked portion of society worldwide.”

Where is your organization based? “I grew up in Athens, Ohio, in the foothills of Appalachia. Heroes International is active here and in the nations of Moldova and Ukraine.”

WHY is this important now? “Every day, Ukraine gains 300 to 500 new widows. As the nation fights for its freedom, a grim toll is taken on families. The average age of a widow in Ukraine is 27; most have at least two young children at home; nearly none have jobs. There are no organizations caring for widows’ unique emotional, spiritual, or practical needs – until now.

Heroes International has teamed up with the world’s premier widow empowerment leaders to form The Trident Widows Club.

The trident is Ukraine’s symbol of strength, independence, and unity – and characteristics we hope to instill in this vulnerable and rapidly growing community. As we prepare to formally launch in Ukraine’s five largest cities February 14, 2024, we need capital to pay for curriculum, safe venue rental for training events, and ‘Blessing Boxes’.

In each city, key civic leaders, chaplains, and counselors will be gathered and trained over four intensive days to identify widows, meet their needs, and provide secure, regular meetings in an environment that fosters camaraderie, sisterhood, purpose, and healing.

We will also train leaders how to create their own Trident Widow Handbook and Directory – identifying, for example, local professional plumbers, electricians, mechanics, handymen, even babysitters, that can help assist around their homes free of charge.

Blessing Boxes will also contain a book of comforting poems and prayers, soothing bath bombs, lotions, and vouchers for local self-care services. Each Blessing Box will cost approximately $50 USD and will be sponsored by local communities of widows themselves once the program is operating at scale. To start, our goal is to have at least 100 Blessing Boxes (20 ‘seed boxes’ to start in each city on our inaugural tour), though, of course, many more would be greatly appreciated and multiply the impact.

Every penny sown into this project will go directly to widow relief with zero overhead and will certainly reap a great harvest.

Whether it’s $10, $50, $500 or more, Heroes International THANKS YOU for your generosity and partnership as we touch and help save the lives of newly widowed women and their children in a nation in the throes of war.”

What are 3 words that give you hope when days are tough? “Gratitude, Grace, Jesus.”

What inspires you? (In the world, in life?) “Survivors and overcomers – single mothers who did it and have children who know that they know they’re loved.”

What is 1 thing you’d like to TEACH/INFORM participants during this campaign? “That every marriage either ends in either divorce or death of a spouse; the surviving widow or widower lived a promise fulfilled.

The average age of a widow in America is 59; in Ukraine now it’s 27.

America, like Ukraine, still has no large-scale or formal programs, clubs, or communities to meet the unique and evolving needs of widows over time.

Grief counseling aside, the need is critical for community; for the presence of others who truly understand; for assistance in practical tasks like legal advice; house and yard upkeep; and the great need for PURPOSE.

It would seem at the very least that every church should have an immediate and robust protocol for helping meet these needs for the newly widowed within their own congregations and communities, yet statistically 98% of churches have nothing more than a card and flowers sent and an announcement in the bulletin.

Losing a spouse is perhaps the most traumatic and painful experience in life, and surviving partners deserve the love and respect of their community. It’s up to us to manifest love in practical ways to each of them. Let’s get some attention and TLC on the massive numbers of widows among us and entering our ranks daily.”

What is 1 act – big or small – you’d like to encourage folks to do, in addition to giving money? “Follow along with our stories of impact on Instagram and FB Reach out to a widow or widower that’s had a year or two to heal. Ask what they wish they would have had in their first days, weeks, months after the loss of their spouse. Taken notice of them, hear their story, and hold space. Perhaps together you can partner with us to ‘adopt’ or sponsor a sister-widow in Ukraine.”

Do you have a favorite quote or poem you’d like to share with folks? “A Scripture from the Bible: ‘A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God … God sets the lonely in families.’ -Psalm 68:5-6”

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JOIN US as an EVERYDAY PHILANTHROPIST

As part of our call to all to be an everyday philanthropist, each month I spotlight a project or program in the world. Our partner’s focus is in at least one of these five categories: human rights, education, health, community emergencies, and art-activism. I am blessed with a huge pool of changemakers in my community – so there is never a lack of trusted organizations with whom to partner.

This sort of “everyday philanthropy” is about an unrestrained generosity rooted in the reality of your everyday life. Generosity feels good. It is part of your purpose on the planet. It finds ways to share with others the treasure trove of whatever you have and whatever you love. It makes a difference with your small and large acts alike … living with a commitment and connection to your sisters and brothers near and far. Explore and discover your unique – right here and now – calling to be an everyday philanthropist today.

I get it: These stories and the very invitation to give and to BE philanthropists isn’t always comfortable. Or easy. Sometimes it’s the world’s pain pricking our hearts that wakes us up to see – and say yes! – to our destiny.

When you donate (THANK YOU!), we invite you to JOIN the Seeds Giving Fund as a monthly donor. It’s simple to set up once and your donation will be automatically directed towards our fundraisers throughout the year. Know that you are helping people each and every month. Consider stretching and giving as much as you can. If that’s $10 (=2 lattes a month!), that is plenty! *All donations are tax deductible.*

Over the past 10 years, we’ve partnered with people in more than a dozen countries around the world and raised over $200,000. We raise funds to support communities in need and people who are making a powerful difference. Our partner’s focus in each fundraiser is in at least one of these five categories: human rights, education, health, community emergencies, and art-activism.

So, today and together, let’s dispute the suggestion that philanthropy is an exclusive club only for those deemed wealthy. Today and together, let’s dispute that the only thing that matters and makes a difference is giving in “big” ways. The movement that will be unleashed when we live as generously unrestrained philanthropists WILL light up the world.

You are loved.
We belong to each other.
Let’s standTALL together and light up the world!

xo, -Sarah Davison-Tracy, Seeds of Exchange