By Ron Callari
On Saturday, June 11, members of Habersham’s Community Garden, in partnership with Taylor’s Landscape Supply and Nursery and support from the Habersham Land Company, held a Monarch and Zebra Longwing butterfly release fundraiser for Ostroh, Ukraine.
As “sister cities,” Beaufort and Ostroh are waterfront destinations — on the Beaufort and Horyn rivers. Both towns have populations of around 15,000, and both communities swell to twice their size during their tourist seasons.
Back in March, the City of Beaufort decided to raise funds for Ostroh. To date — according to Councilman Mitch Mitchell — more than $80,000 has been collected. City officials noted that this fundraising would help Ostroh’s refugees and displaced citizens.
With a plan conceived by Beaufort Bookstore owner Bruce Page, the Habersham Community Gardeners headed up by Donna and Paul Brainard added to the City’s coffers. With each $20 donation, 100 participants received a butterfly in a sealed packet to release.
With sizable donations from Taylor’s Landscape Supply and Nursery, Habersham Land Company and the Habersham Community, the gardeners raised $5,305.
