Here are another three initiatives from companies donating flowers to people caring for elderly people who are lonely at this time, or caring for people who are sick, all due to the Coronavirus.
California
A San Diego greenhouse grower donated thousands of plants to the area's first responders. The multi generation family owned company, decided to team up with one of their customers in Southern California, Plantscapers, Inc. in Irvine and Palm Desert, to provide beautiful flowering plants to brighten the days of so many on the front lines of combatting the health impacts of COVID-19 in Southern California communities. According to the company, their donation of thousands of Bromeliads have been a real hit and bright spot in the recipient’s day.
“We can see how much this pandemic is affecting our neighbors and our state, and we want to help as much as we can,” says Denise Godfrey, of Olive Hill Greenhouses. “While we know that first responders are incredibly absorbed in this crisis and caring for people, it’s just as important for us to take care of our community members struggling emotionally at this time, as well as help really brighten the days those on the front lines fighting this outbreak.”
Rhode Island
Staff at Adams Farm had a “fun and exciting” plan to go into the tulip business for the first time this year, said Alex Marszalkowski, a state representative and member of the family that owns the farm at 495 Sumner Brown Road, but those plans went awry with the arrival of the coronavirus.
Staff planted 50,000 tulips, he said, as part of this experimental year, and the crop actually “came out pretty beautifully,” but the pandemic prevented the farm from opening. Complicating things further, said Marszalkowski, the tulip field itself is in Wrentham, Mass., and Rhode Islanders aren’t supposed to be crossing state lines.
Instead of trying to sell the tulips at other sites to recoup their investment, Marszalkowski said he was inspired by news stories of people helping elderly residents facing hardships and decided the farm would donate this year’s tulip crop. “It is nice to be able to help some people,” he said. “I was inspired by other good deeds people have been doing.”
Marszalkowski said he still doesn’t know when the farm might open, but he jokes that all the deliveries he and his family have been making will hopefully send “some good karma out into the world” so the farm is able to open by its busy season in the fall.
The Netherlands
International Nurses Day is celebrated on 12 May. This year also marks the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale, the woman who stands for the symbol of the nursing profession. In the Netherlands, FleuraMetz joined forces with Topbloemen.nl and V&VN (the Dutch Professional Association for Nursing and Care Professionals) to launch an interesting donation campaign.
Gerton Heyne, Chairman of V&VN, symbolically donated the first Suspended Bouquet to Marita de Kleijne, carer in a nursing home. Suspended Bouquets allows bouquets, made from flowers grown with a passion for floriculture and arranged with love, to be donated to worthy individuals or organisations. This idea sprang from purple-wire, the creative agency of FleuraMetz. The agency believes in the craftsmanship of the florist as a connection element in times of isolation and individualisation and in the passion of flower growers for their products and profession.
There are many groups in our society that are unable to buy flowers but are certainly more than deserving of them. To purple-wire, the florist serves as a connecting element in times of isolation and individualisation. A bringer of small happiness should not be missing in any city, town, district or neighbourhood. Giving someone a bouquet via Suspended Bouquets, created in the spirit of traditional craftsmanship in the most beautiful colours and with the most delightful fragrances, gives satisfaction to both the giver and the recipient.
By connecting florists via Suspended Bouquets, it is easy to contribute to everyday happiness in many locations throughout the Netherlands. This movement connects florists, donors and buddies. In May and June in the Netherlands (International Nursing Day) these were FleuraMetz, Topbloemen.nl and the V&VN. Aside from this campaign, FleuraMetz will be linking interesting campaigns to Suspended Bouquets, such as special boxes that make it easy to put together a beautiful bouquet.
Do you know of any other initiatives in the floral sector? Send an email to info@floraldaily.com