By Jim McGregor/Special to 91原创 Advance Times

As the conflict in Ukraine worsens every day, many of us wish we could do something to help.

Murrayville resident Mary-Lou London took that to heart, and put her skills as a crafter to work.

鈥淲e are so far from the Ukraine, but watching what is happening there just breaks my heart. I鈥檝e always had a creative side, and I knew, here was something I should be able to do.鈥�

So, she started making car decals with the Ukrainian flag.鈥�

Mine are for car windows, but they can go anywhere, on the windows of the house or anywhere you choose,鈥� London said. 鈥淭hey are weather resistant, so they will last. And I鈥檓 starting to see cars around town with my decals on them鈥� it gives me a sense that I鈥檓 doing something.鈥�

London makes them at home, and at first she was giving them away.

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鈥淭he Ukrainian flag is just two colours 鈥� yellow and blue 鈥� so it was simple to make. And, after I put a post on the Murrayville Facebook page, I had lots of people asking for them.鈥�

Then someone suggested she ask for donations, so she did.

鈥淪o far, I have raised over $595 that will be donated to the people of Ukraine,鈥� London said.

鈥淚n the grand scheme of things that is not a lot money right now, but every little bit helps鈥� Since I have started asking for donations, people have been donating anywhere from $5 to $40, and I am taking nothing out of this for myself.鈥�

She also hope her efforts will inspire others to come up with fundraising ideas. The contributions she鈥檚 collecting are going to the Canadian Red Cross鈥� Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.

But London noted it鈥檚 not all about the money.

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鈥淓ven if someone doesn鈥檛 want to donate they will still have the decal on their car and when people see it they will remember the Ukrainian people,鈥� she said, noting awareness is also important.

While this is the first time she has taken on a fundraiser, people in her community no doubt have seen what she calls her Heart Tree.

鈥淚 have a big wooden heart that my husband attached to a tree in our yard at the start of the pandemic, we painted it red with Dr. Henry鈥檚 鈥楤e Kind鈥� message, then when the Aboriginal graves were found we painted it orange with 鈥楨very Child Matters鈥�,鈥� London explained.

鈥淟ast week we took it down and took to Wally Martin at the Princess and Pea B&B and he painted it yellow and blue and it is back in the tree.鈥�

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Martin has been making handpainted Ukrainian flags from used lumber and coreplast and donating them for people to display in their windows, as well.

It started as a simple project for the inn keeper.

鈥淚 started making one to put in my yard and put a picture on Facebook, and then I received lots of orders. When I painted the heart for Mary-Lou, I got the idea to make more hearts and now lots of people want them as a tribute to Ukraine, as well.鈥�

London is hoping to see more and more decals as the days go by.

鈥淚 just received an order for 30 from a lady, and I hope this is just the start of many more orders. I would love to see them all over the community and beyond.鈥�

Those interested in decals can contact Mary-Lou London via email at :decalsforukraine@gmail.com.

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