Personal connection inspires flower fund for Ukrainian refugees

JULIA WADE

28 Mar, 2022

‘Say it with flowers’ took on an extra-special meaning to patrons of a local floristry cart in the recent week, knowing that all proceeds of every beautiful bunch will be supporting Ukrainians fleeing the carnage of war.

An inspiring and benevolent initiative by Mangawhai florist and owner of ‘Andra’s Flowers’, Lithuanian-born and raised Andra Girininkiene set up the fundraising-via-flowers cart from March 21-27 after heart-rending conversations with her parents who are currently assisting with humanitarian aid for Ukraine refugees in her home country.

“A lot of people from Ukraine are now refugees in Lithuania and my mum and dad, a doctor, are working with a non-profit organisation who manage a foster home, helping to look after around a hundred children with more to arrive,” she says in her entrancing eastern-European accent.

“They say a lot of kids have come on their own as their parents have stayed to fight the invasion in Ukraine.”

Money raised will go directly to the foster home to help buy essentials such as food and clothing, as well as phones so children can stay connected with their families. While her parents, both in their mid-70s, are motivated to help the refugees, Andra also holds concerns about their own safety.

“People in Lithuania feel very uncertain, they don’t know what is going to be next and the war is not even there yet, it’s scary,” she says. “I feel strongly connected to what’s happening over there because Lithuania and other Baltic countries got our independence together with Ukraine, they’re a peaceful country and then someone arrives and starts to shoot you, which is incredible in 2022.”

Andra was only 20-years-old when the USSR collapsed in 1991 and says prior to her country’s independence, she recalls the fear of living under Russian rule, ‘being told what we have to do, you couldn’t choose’.

“My grandmother was sent to jail for three years for doing unofficial work, overlocking garments – we weren’t allowed to do those things, it was illegal to have extra work,” she says. “I was a teenager and had to stand by the window as lookout… I feel I didn’t see a lot of good being under Russian law.”

At 18, Andra also took part in the famous ‘Baltic Way’, the peaceful protest against the Soviet regime, involving around two million united Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians standing together hand-in-hand in a human chain spanning 690km across the three Baltic states.

“People protested a lot but from 1991 life was really good, changed in many ways, we couldn’t get a lot of items before, we didn’t have a variety of food or clothing, we didn’t have nice clothes, you would go to a dressmaker and she’d just make you something horrible,” she says. “My family didn’t struggle but meals were just simple, was amazed when I went overseas for the first time at how much different food there was.”

In 2012 Andra, who also works part-time as a home carer and holds a degree in economics and accounting, closed down her wedding planning business and made the big move down-under with her family, eventually finding her way to Mangawhai six years ago. She says New Zealand has offered her kids many different opportunities, ‘they have good views in their heads, they know what is going on, how to live in peace’.

“This is a very friendly, caring country, people who know me through the markets or my health care work often ask about my family, they’re interested and are really supportive.”

While this week of fundraising via flowers finished on March 27, another is planned for Easter for those who would like to support the Ukrainian people ‘while having a bunch of flowers to enjoy’.

With blooms sourced from Auckland, Northland and local growers, Andra’s online business provides her main income while the flower cart on Wharfdale Cres, is more for the enjoyment of the community, a way to share her passion for plants, ‘nice to be able to do what I love’.

“One week I’m doing bouquets for a wedding, the next funeral flowers which makes me think how everything is temporary and you have to do today what you can,” she says. “It’s not just about the money, its more about what you do… a little help is still help.”

n The Mangawhai Focus is pledging $500 to Andra’s ‘Flower Fundraiser’. Businesses and locals who want to contribute in any way can buy flowers from the cart on Wharfdale Cres or contact Andra at sales@andrasflowers.com.

Local florist, Lithuanian Andra Girininkiene, says her connection to the Ukraine urged her to fundraise and help those whose lives have been deeply affected by the war: “I just thought I have the opportunity to help and so far people seem to like the idea.” PHOTO/JULIA WADE

“I feel strongly connected to what’s happening over there because Lithuania and other Baltic countries got our independence together with

Ukraine, they’re a peaceful country and then someone arrives and starts to shoot you…”