Unexpected Blooms has been spreading recycled flowers — and joy — to senior care facilities for the past 10 years. Now, it's supporting the next generation of florists with a scholarship for local community college students. Tucked into a church basement is one of Unexpected Blooms' workspaces, where volunteers sort through buckets of donated flowers to then cut, trim and arrange them into dozens of bouquets.
The hundreds of flowers left over from events like weddings or funerals could have been destined for the trash, but they're finding a new life brightening the rooms of seniors living in health care facilities around the Kansas City area — and now also supporting the next generation of florists.
AJ Miller is the board chair for Unexpected Blooms and has been volunteering with the nonprofit for about eight years. She said it's important to bring joy to individuals who can oftentimes feel isolated.
"Maybe they have a loved one that will visit them in a care facility. Maybe they don't," Miller said. "So when we bring flowers to their community, some of them, it might be the only personal touch that they received all month."
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