Archives for February 2015

Flower Angels on a mission….

For two days our amazing Flower Angel volunteers went to work recycling and repurposing 3 SUV loads of flowers generously donated from Trader Joes, Shaws and Ring Bros. Under the direction of Strell, our West Dennis Garden Club, small receptacle specialist, we created beauteous arrangements using teas cup, mugs, sugar bowls and other small receptacles. It was wonderful and fun having our newest and youngest team creating awesome bouquets. Smiles filled the rooms in Royal Harwich, Brewster EPOCH and Eagle Pond Nursing Homes as the Flower Angels distributed delightful arrangements to 121 delighted patients.

VOLUNTEERS AND SMALL RECEPTACLES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!

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We have the best job….seeing so many faces light up when they realize these flowers are a special gift for them. It makes our hearts happy knowing we are bringing so much sunshine and joy to so many lonely people.

This lovely patient in EPOCH Brewster was absolutely thrilled with her flowers. She wanted to know everything about the wonderful angels who made these for people they didn’t even know. She was an RN her entire life and thought this was the best thing anyone has ever done. She could not have been happier and asked me to be sure to thank you all from the bottom of her heart. “I really can’t get over the kindness of the Flower Angels. I feel like crying.” she said. “They have brought me so much happiness.”

Flower Angels on a mission…delivering smiles, decreasing loneliness…one bouquet at a time!

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“Flowers make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul. ” American botanist Luther Burbank may have been onto something when he proclaimed this in the early 20th century. Many decades later, multiple studies have found that flowers may actually have health benefits—especially for aging adults.

Flower Angels Kathi and Suzanne sharing some sunshine and floral love at Royal Harwich.

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From the Provincetown Banner:

PROVINCETOWN — In 2013, after nearly two years in Seashore Point in Provincetown, Suzanne Carter’s mother passed away. What her mother probably knew is that she left a daughter with a big heart and a lot of energy. What she may not have known is how that daughter would create a legacy in her mother’s spirit that would spread joy to people all over Cape Cod.

Inspired by time spent with her mother at Seashore Point, Carter created a new non-profit t, Flower Angels, “a match made in heaven,” as Carter describes it, whose sole mission is to repurpose and recycle flowers and deliver them to those in nursing homes, residential facilities and hospice care.

Carter, who was raised in Provincetown but currently lives in Dennis, noticed there were many people who didn’t have visitors. She discovered that 60 percent of people in nursing homes have never had one visitor. This troubling fact led her to react. She started by bringing candy and cookies to her mother to share with other residents. The joy this brought to the residents extended to Carter.

After a year of grieving following her mother’s death, Carter started putting her energy, and small inheritance, into buying and delivering flowers to those people who rarely saw visitors come through the door.

“Activity directors were very helpful in pointing out those most in need,” Carter says.

A lawyer she consulted said it likely would take up to a year to get a non-profit t status. But, after sending the application with a letter detailing the mission and the urgency of it, she received non-profit status three weeks later, she said.

That was last March. In May, with the onset of donations from wedding parties, Carter started counting bouquets being delivered. The current tally is 5,145.

“I saw the Dalai Lama [speak] a few years ago and when asked what our purpose is, he said to be happy,” Carter says. “When asked how to be happy, the Dalai Lama answered, ‘The only way you’ll be happy is to serve others.’”

Through Flower Angels, Carter has managed to serve not just the recipients of the flowers but numerous others on Cape Cod as well. She has allied her non-profit with Cape Abilities and Community Connections, organizations that facilitate the hiring and volunteerism of differently abled people. “My daughter is special needs. There is a job for her and many other differently abled people in our mission,” Carter says.

One man, to whom they affectionately refer as the “vase engineer,” cleans and sterilizes all of the vases that are picked up and returned to the center by another set of volunteers. “The people in the nursing homes love the people from these organizations. Everyone’s face lights up. They’re more happy to see them than they are to see me,” Carter says.

“It’s quite a system,” she continues. “Originally, I was buying all the flowers and vases and asking my friends to volunteer. Then I asked people to donate their time and vases by putting boxes around to community centers and advertising in the ‘Right to Know’ section of the paper. I got 6,000 vases in two months, and many volunteers. I printed up a brochure and did a massive mailing to florists and wedding facilities. By May I was flooded with wedding flowers. I think everyone gets something out of this system.”

Flower Angels’ oldest volunteer, Irene Chausse, is 90 years old, says Carter. She makes the bouquets out of donated flowers.

Describing her experience as a volunteer, Chausse reports, “It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

During a recent delivery at Seashore Point, 40 residents received small bouquets, and 10 bouquets were left over for the dining room and common areas.

“I love this,” says Seashore Point resident Beverly Brazil, as a Cape Abilities volunteer carefully sets a bouquet of flowers on her tray. “It makes sunshine in my day.” Another resident who asked not to be identified says when she first came to Seashore Point, “All of a sudden there were flowers all over. I thought it was a great idea.”

More businesses are getting on board. Trader Joe’s and Shaw’s grocery stores donate flowers, and not just those that are past expiration, but fresh, new flowers, too. For the flowers that are past expiration, it’s a way to repurpose them. They’re going to be thrown out anyway, says Carter. And in addition to re-using them, the organization also composts the flowers that are past usability.

In the winter, half of the volunteers leave for warmer climes and the deliveries go down by about half, from 250 to 300 bouquets per week to about 125 per week in the winter.

To cover continuing expenses, like rent, utilities and gas, Flower Angels held a fundraiser last November. There was a nor’easter that day, however, and the turnout was not as good as they’d hoped, but organizers were able to cover some important costs. Gas for deliveries can run up to $800 a month. There are grants available for similar organizations, but Carter feels like they have specific needs that may or may not apply.

“We’re hoping to get a van so we don’t have to make as many trips,” Carter says. “And we’re at the point where we could use an office person. There’s a lot of paperwork, including writing grants. It’s not my thing.

Though she is clearly the enthusiasm, drive and heart behind this mission, Carter credits those who pitch in for carrying it all off. “I couldn’t do any of this without my volunteers.”

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The winter heart of our Flower Angels workshop is Sandy, Gail, Kathleen, Irene, Strell, Kathi, Tammy, Deb, Mara, Suzanne, Community Connection and Cape Abilities teams and our newest Flower Angels, Peter and Megan. Dedicated to our mission, they brave the weather and go to work lovingly making brilliant bouquets to be delivered to our elderly in nursing homes on Cape Cod. It’s hard work but a labor of love. They share their stories, smile a lot sometimes kick up their heels to the music played by our DJ, Mara, and really enjoy each others company. They are truly special angels…spiritual beings sharing a human experience.

Mara says the work we do is very moving and she loves delivering the flowers because they bring happiness and joy to many lonely people. Sandy, our shining star, is always ready to do whatever is needed to keep the mission going. She collects flowers from Shaws weekly, deconstructs, arranges, delivers and often accompanies our differently-abled community teams who assist with our deliveries. Strell and Gail are our artists…masters at creating incredibly magnificent arrangements in tea cups and mugs which are loved by the patients. Most of us are always in awe by the beauty and massive number of arrangements created in such a short time. It’s nothing less than a miracle! Kathi is a highly organized gem and keeps us all going forward as she packs all of the flowers with precision for each nursing home we have on our weekly schedule. Irene, our 90 year young flower angel has amazing energy and a youthful spirit. Being involved in the Flower Angels’ mission is an awesome experience. Volunteers are always welcome!

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