Do you ever wish you could support your community and go greener while still managing a full-time business? Florists and planners can bring happiness and enjoyment to others by donating flowers to those in need.
- Before you start, verify where you are sending flowers to. You may be able to claim a deduction on your federal taxes if you donated to a 501(c)3 organization.
- Science tells us that flowers are mood-boosters. What groups in the community do you feel need a pick-me-up?
- Caring for second-use flowers. Make sure to separate the healthy from the non-healthy stems.
Where to send flowers
Before you donate
Whether it’s your first time donating or you’ve been doing it for years, there are some things to know before sending flowers off. Things like verifying a non-profit organization, knowing your finances, tracking donations, and staying true to your values are all important factors when choosing a charity.
Nursing homes
What usually comes to mind when donating flowers is nursing homes. Bouquets of Kindness in Jacksonville, Florida, began a program donating bouquets to nursing home patients in 2016. Flowers are a sure way to perk up someone’s day; however, they found that it did little to break the loneliness and depression felt by its residents. The organization decided to switch gears by donating buckets of flowers to allow residents to make their own bouquets. Needless to say, it was a hit.
In Texas, there are about 1,200 nursing homes to speak of. A quick Google search is all you need to get involved with the nearest nursing home and set up a program like Bouquets of Kindness did. The organization has helped seniors create more than 10,000 bouquets. Check out their Instagram page here.
Hospitals, Hospice, and Funerals
You may have heard of Repeat Roses, an organization that started six years ago with the intention to close the loop on landfill flowers while spreading joy throughout the community. A doctor in Richmond, Virginia began repurposing flowers for her medical patients. Before studying medicine, Eleanor Love began working at a flower shop. Since then, she started her own company called The Simple Sunflower which takes donated wedding flowers and repurposes them among those in need.
Funeral services may also accept once-loved floral arrangements through the help of friends, relatives, or coworkers. Another way to donate flowers to funerals or hospice centers is to call and make arrangements.
Homeless Shelters
Shelters are always in need of basic supplies, but what they rarely get is flowers! Those individuals and families who are struggling with housing and other life events may find themselves in a homeless shelter for a period of time. Bringing the joy of flowers into an otherwise stressful situation may be just the spark they need to keep going. You never know who needs that extra boost of encouragement.
Donating a percentage of your income
We get it. Coordinating flower pickup may be out of reach for your business. How about this instead… if your finances are stable and you’d like to give back in other ways, consider donating a percentage of your income.
“Nature never wastes. That’s why I reuse.” — @calderful
Texas resources
Bloomerent started after a bride realized her wedding flowers were being tossed after only five hours of use. With locations all over the country, Bloomerent can be found here in Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas. How it works: engaged couples will book with a Bloomerent florist and receive 10% back after donation. Then, those same flowers will be reused at another event for 40-60% of the cost and maximum use of the flowers. Pretty cool.
In Temple, Texas, Education Blossoms takes repurposing into their own hands. Not only do they educate florists and integrate students into the community, but they also deliver repurposed flowers to those in need.
At Franzie’s Flower Friends, florists are able to donate flowers and vases to the organization and they handle the rest. Located in Houston, Texas, they are 100% run by volunteers and are always looking for new people to join.
Floranthropy, located in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, is a Christian-based organization that grew tired of the waste involved with flowers and decided to do something positive about it. To donate, fill out the form online and pay the $150 base fee. Depending on the size of the donation, other fees may be added. Floranthropy will pick up your donation within 24-hours.
Caring for second-use flowers
What to look for
Any unhealthy stems should be discarded (or better yet–composted), but other than that, just trim the stems and get to work! This can be a playful addition to your regular activities, especially seeing the transformation in all its glory. The color palette can easily be changed by adding new blooms to the arrangement.
Any kind of donation element is a fantastic way to show your support. Don’t let this article limit you when reusing flowers, either! Try a new idea before tossing the next flower arrangement. As always, post what you do on social and tag us! #pikespeakwholesale
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