‘It’s the best thing that’s ever happened’: Wheatland community helps elderly woman find new home

By Orko Manna

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    WHEATLAND, California (KCRA) — Yuba County residents helped a 93-year-old woman whose home was run-down from winter storms find a new place to live.

Hundreds of people in Wheatland pitched in to help Pearl Graham, known as “The Tulip Lady,” a safe and comfortable place to live.

Examining her home, the roof was broken in different spots, with tarps hanging overhead. Insulation could be seen on the side of the building. Inside, conditions are even worse.

Photos given to KCRA 3 show damage to the walls and floors in every room, which is largely a result of the winter storms in December.

“The wind was real strong and the rain came pouring down,” Graham said. “I was just cold all night.”

Graham is affectionately known as “The Tulip Lady” because of the colorful tulip garden she plants every spring. Community members often walk by her home, in many cases to see the tulips, but also to greet Graham.

Some people, such as Kelly Zimmerman and Sharon Bradshaw, noticed the damage to Graham’s home while walking past it in December.

“If Pearl was there another day, she may not have made it,” Zimmerman said. “When we found out that Pearl was in there, we said we were going to go in and get her out.”

That is exactly what they did. Graham, who is wheelchair-bound, was first put up at hotels for a few weeks. Bradshaw found an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant apartment that is also affordable. With the added help of Health and Human Resources, they were able to get Graham into an available unit.

Graham just moved in this week to her fully furnished apartment. Hundreds of people helped supply her with furniture, appliances, and flower-inspired decorations.

“They made everything just beautiful,” Graham said. “I was happy when I found out that I was going to get to move here.”

More items are still on their way.

“Once the community found out about it, there was just such a spirit of giving,” Zimmerman said.

Community members are even bringing Graham home-cooked food for every meal.

“We’re not sure what she was eating before,” Bradshaw said. “I found a bag of soggy bread and hot dogs in her refrigerator, so just having committed meals to her every day helped her get healthy and stay healthy.”

The outpouring of support is something Graham will never forget.

“It’s the best thing that’s ever happened in my whole life, to have so many people help me like they have,” Graham said.

Next on Graham’s to-do list is to grow another tulip garden outside her new home, thanks to donated bulbs.

“I’m going to dig with these shovels and plant all of these bulbs,” Graham said.

She always wants to continue giving the gift of gratitude to everyone who has helped “The Tulip Lady” blossom once again.

The community members who helped Graham get back on her feet want this situation to serve as a reminder to check on the elderly folks in your community who might need help. Zimmerman said she is trying to connect with other elderly people in Wheatland who may need assistance. Zimmerman can be reached at 530-483-9127.

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