SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Sunflowers grow on people’s lapels in a Santa Barbara neighborhood.
Small yellow and brown crocheted flowers, a symbol of peace and unity for Ukraine, handmade by a group of residents of the retirement community of Samarkand.
“I was so upset when the war started, as we all were, and I was like, ‘Well, I can’t go out there and do anything, so what can I do? ? Well, I can crochet,'” Jeri Moulder said. .
She and a group of ladies started working with yarn, ribbons, glue guns and safety pins, then set up a donation jar.
Their goal was to raise $3,000.00 for Direct Relief’s efforts in the war-torn region.
“We probably made about 150 pins. We raised $8,127! I was amazed, I was totally blown away. Samarkand rocks,” Moulder said with a laugh.
The group presented the check in person to Direct Relief on Tuesday.
“Samarkand has a heart as BIG as the giant sunflowers on State Street and has raised enough sunflower donations to fill an entire garden,” said Jodi Turley, Samarkand’s Activities Coordinator.
Moulder, who sowed the seeds for the project and even crocheted special sunflower-shaped earrings, said the craft was no longer available; she has no more energy to make sunflowers, for now.
However, Moulder urged the community to donate to the non-profit humanitarian organization.
