New Beginnings for the New Year

Flowers from the Heart, our new program had its debut delivery last week. The initiative gives our participants an opportunity to learn work skills, while surprising people with unexpected flowers and delivering a bit of joy.

Our volunteer flower team rescues slightly spent blooms from local businesses, such as KD and Company of Wheeling, Grand Food Center in Winnetka and Whole Foods of Glenview. Then brings the flowers to be recycled in the newly created Flowers from the Heart Workshop at The Douglas Center.

The volunteers work one on one with our participants, arranging the new creations and preparing them for delivery. Each vase, bouquet or bundle has a personalized card with a Flowers from the Heart sentiment, the name of the participant that created the arrangement and the business that provided the flowers.

Our First Delivery

Our first delivery was Tuesday to Alden Northshore. The reaction and appreciation of the residents as our participants went room to room introducing themselves and giving each resident a vase of flowers was priceless.

We plan on sharing the cheerful arrangements with assisted living facilities, nursing home residents, and our community partners like police and fire departments. You never know, we might even spring in at the local library or legislator office. We are having so much fun with the possibilities.

The idea is already growing rapidly, thanks to Elizabeth Kristiansen, Director of Program/Services, who is spearheading the effort. We are already booked to deliver flowers well into February. It is evident, that the ending of a local compassion organization has brought new beginnings and possibilities for the growth of our participants.

Would You like to Help?

We need vases!

• Glass, plastic or ceramic, ideally 6-9 inches tall with 3-4 inches wide.
• Mason jars are also good.

Call The Douglas Center to schedule drop-offs during business hours.

We are looking forward to brightening the day of many individuals in the community in the near future. Thank you to the vendors, volunteers, and community for supporting and helping us grow in this new venture.