McLean Art Class Raises $1,000 For Ukraine, Shows Solidarity Through Art

MCLEAN, VA — A McLean art teacher held an art class Saturday to support Ukraine, and the effort ended up raising $1,000.

Pamela Saunders, known by her students as "Miss Pam," held an art class through Zoom with all proceeds benefiting Sunflower of Peace. The organization is providing urgent medical and humanitarian relief to Ukraine in light of the Russian invasion.

The virtual art class focused on children using watercolor techniques to paint a sunflower, the national flower of Ukraine. Children were encouraged to display their finished work in their windows to show solidarity with Ukraine.

"It's such a symbol of solidarity," Saunders previously told Patch. "That's kind of what we're hoping for...solidarity and empathy and community."

Saunders said 21 families registered for the class and were asked to make a $10 minimum donation. Two anonymous donors helped the fundraiser reach $1,000.

Although some participants couldn't join the class live, they could listen to a recording to follow Saunders' instruction. After the class, families shared images of their children working on the paintings or holding up their finished artwork.

Saunders previously told Patch teaching art was the best way she knew how to help Ukraine, which has faced bombardment by Russia's military and seen more than a million people flee their homes. She believes art can help children process their emotions about images or news they have seen about Ukraine and open conversations with their parents.

Saunders holds art classes several days a week at McLean's Brooksfield School, Chesterbrook Elementary School's after-school art club, and Redeemer Renaissance After-School Program art club. She holds art classes once a week as well, continuing a tradition started when schools went virtual for the COVID-19 pandemic. Classes are aimed at school-age children.

For more information about her classes, visit www.youngatartwithmisspam.com.