It is all in the delivery!
A Cobble Hill woman is saving doomed flowers from local stores and turning them into free bouquets for local nursing homes — a scheme she says is as much about having an excuse to visit the oldsters as it is posies themselves.
“The whole idea is not to just drop of flowers but to engage with people who don’t necessarily get visitors or flowers and bring them something beautiful,” said Caroline Anderson, founder of Bloom Again Bklyn.
Anderson collects flowers that would otherwise be thrown away from Trader Joe’s and Opalia Flowers in Boerum Hill twice a week and transforms the aging buds into elegant bouquets with the help of a team of volunteers.
The organization prepares and delivers more than 100 arrangements each week to two nearby nursing homes — Cobble Hill Health Center and Hopkins Center For Rehabilitation and Health Care in Boerum Hill — and the residents have really blossomed to the idea, Anderson said.
“The residents have told volunteers it reminds them of their childhood, it enlivens their day, perks up their spirits, and makes it worthwhile to get up,” she said.
And visitors to the old folks homes say they also love seeing the vibrant additions to the otherwise austere facilities.
“It really makes a nice difference in a place where there’s not a lot of color,” said Stuart Post, who visits a friend at Cobble Hill Health Center every day.”
Anyone can volunteer, and those who do will get a lesson in how to trim stems and create bouquets. The outfit also hosts workshops for schools and companies, where youngsters and professionals learn how to construct the perfect bunch of flowers then deliver them to the homes.
Volunteer at www.bloom
