From San Diego to Kyiv, Seven Seas Supporting Ukraine’s One Love Coffee

Seven Seas’ Eric Dobbs (center) with principals of One Love Coffee. All images courtesy of the Seven Seas Foundation.

San Diego-based coffee roasting company Seven Seas Roasting is helping to raise money for a Ukrainian coffee company that has been providing meals and welcoming environments for people affected by the ongoing war with Russia.

Seven Seas and its CEO Eric Dobbs helped raise just over $10,000 for Kyiv-based roaster-retailer One Love Coffee (Instagram link) last year, hand-delivering the donation along with key medical supplies.

Dobbs, a United States Navy veteran, said the visit to One Love and its owner Volodymyr Zadiraka last fall made a profound impact on him personally, and he helped create a 501c3 nonprofit called the Seven Seas Foundation to lend further support to One Love, its staff and its six locations throughout the Ukranian city.

At a One Love espresso bar in Kyiv.

In a recent announcement shared with DCN, Dobbs said One Love is currently in danger of closing due to lack of funds, as the company has been struggling to pay staff and rent while also supplying 900 meals per day plus supplies to hospital workers, first responders and other people in need due to the war conditions.

“This would completely devastate the service men and women, community, and families of Kyiv,” Dobbs said. “Not only would the 900 first responders and military no longer be fed, but families and the community would no longer have a place to experience genuine connection through coffee and food. This would force many more families to be at the direct hands of war.”

The One Love roastery in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Through direct donations and sponsorships, the Seven Seas Foundation is currently seeking to raise $75,000 to cover One Love’s operating costs, equipment maintenance, employee salaries, essential supplies and to launch an SCA-certified school facilitated by renowned coffee expert and Q Grader Sam Choi.

“The sponsorship and funding support for One Love Coffee Shop assists in its survival and also sends a powerful message of solidarity to the resilient people of Ukraine,” said Seven Seas. “It symbolizes the unwavering commitment to rebuilding and reviving the community, ultimately offering hope for a brighter future.”

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