Sometimes the chaos outside our homes is paralyzing. Sometimes that’s just me. This time it’s the entire world. We are all in chaos. The war in Ukraine is the final drop in a bucket already overflowing. I, we, the Studio, feel an incredible pull to help the victims. The need for humanitarian aid is immense.
Ukraine is our neighbor. The border is a 10-12 hour drive from my home. A drive I can’t make, but many people around me are making. Drives to pick up people, drop off supplies, drives of support. The support I can do. I can help. My heart is with every person sharing their stories, opening their homes, opening their hearts. The incredible community we are experiencing here in Europe is heart-warming. There is hope for our future. Even in all this chaos.
I cannot ask my team, nor any of you, to join me in supporting my friends, neighbors or favorite game store. I can work with you all to help raise funds for a well-known, trusted, reputable charity. The International Committee of the Red Cross is raising funds to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine. They are solely there for the people needing help. And there are so many people needing help.
On my Facebook feed there is a steady stream of heart-rending stories. Children sent across the border to safety without parents, moms with pregnant bellies & toddlers on their hips, elderly people displaced from their homes after 7-8-9 decades! Trains overfilled with refugees, and more left standing on platforms. There is also a steady stream of help. People filling cars with food, diapers & blankets. People driving up empty vans to bring back refugees to their own homes. I help where I can. I’ve reached out to friends & colleagues able to drive to the borders with help. I can do that.
I can also open up our store to help. Our Designers have linked some of their favorite products to a very special Help Ukraine category. Everything here is on sale for 40% Off. All proceeds raised in this special Help Ukraine category go directly to the International Committee of the Red Cross to help fund humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
In addition to donating their hard-earned sales, our Design Team has created a truly stunning limited-edition Mega Kit: The Road to Freedom Free with any $20 Purchase in our Help Ukraine category
The sunflower is not just Ukraine’s national flower, it’s become a symbol of resistance & solidarity for the Ukrainian people. I dove down a rabbit hole this afternoon to find out why & it’s because of a defiant Ukrainian woman… offering sunflower seeds to invading soldiers:
“Take these seeds and put them in your pockets, so at least sunflowers will grow when you all lie down here,” she said (from the BBC News)
Now sunflowers are taking social media by storm. Multiple outlets are urging all of us to adopt sunflowers on our social media as a symbol of solidarity. We’re doing our part at the Studio. Our mega kit, The Road to Freedom, has over 30 sunflower & sunflower elements to help you join in.
I’m not always the smoothest, or techiest, when it comes to technology. If you want to see the video of the “sunflower lady” perhaps it’s here below as part of my post. Or, you can click on this link to go the BBC YouTube Video.
My heart, all our hearts, are with the Ukrainian people. Our greatest wish is for peace, safety and a return to their homes and lives. May the road to freedom be bordered with sunflowers.
My heart and thoughts go out to all. The Ukranians helped settle the Province of Manitoba In Canada. And in my home town. I will be checking this all out. Hugs.
I am so happy to be part of this community and all the caring that you do in times like this. My heart is so very sad and I wish I could do more. I am ashamed of not only my country (USA) but all the countries that are trying to help but in my mind are just NOT doing enough. The people of Ukraine deserve so much more to save their freedoms! I pray every night and throughout the day…I cannot watch much of the news as it brings me to tears! Thank you for all the designers here at DSS that are so giving! Going shopping now!!!
Hello, my name is Natalie and many of you know me as TirAmisu design. I’m from Ukraine, I live in the beautiful city named Odessa. It’s washed by the Black sea.
When I saw this collab I cried. Words cannot express how touched and grateful I am to you on behalf of all the people of Ukraine. On behalf of all Ukrainian children!
Thanks a lot. We are going through the worst days of our lives right now. We are very scared. But we see the support of the whole world. You have no idea how important it was to me!
Sorry for my English.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 Natalie❤️❤️❤️
We Stand with Ukrainian people. We send you our prayers and our love
Thank you my dear friend❤️❤️❤️!
Dear Natalie, as a Czech (although living in the USA now for most of my life), I wanted to tell you we are so with you. Ukraine is fighting for us as well. We also do feel like we are one of “the next ones”. I have visited your beautiful Odessa and Kyiv and I keep walking through them now in my memories while seeing the current horror, completely unable to do much else. As my family and friends are trying to help as much as they can back at home in the Czech Republic, our Czech and Slovak community here is trying to support you and your community here as well. And during moments when I try to calm myself, I started studying Ukrainian language on Duolingo. I feel pathetic and meaningless but it helps me to understand more and seeing how close Ukrainian and Czech are… <3 Sending love…
it is heartbreaking to watch what is happening in Ukraine. and to see the amazing Ukranian people having to flee their homes, most of them women and children. i am in the US, near NYC with the largest population of Ukranians in the US and i have neighbors who are Ukranians so i am doing what i can as well, although it doesn’t seem to be enough. the spirit of Ukraine is definitely embodies in the sunflower .. strong and hopeful as it grows and flourishes in the sun. the outpouring of support from the countries surrounding Ukraine is heartwarming to hear the stories of open arms and selfless deeds. Ukraine’s spirit and strength has united the world in an unprecedented manner. all i can do is support however i am able and pray that the people of Ukraine and their children who are the future will never lose their amazing strength, spirit, and will to protect their country and way of life.
I am so sad about Ukraine. I am praying that this ends soon and the people of that country can regain their lives. I hope they keep their strength and win this war.
Toiny, it’s good to hear from you after all this time. Hoping things are now going well for you and the family.
Oh, I am so sorry that this fund raiser was so limited in time. I am just seeing it now and would have purchased to help. Are you going to be running this again? The war is far from over and I’m sure the need is even greater now. My heart goes out to all of them. May God keep them safe.