Indianapolis In Bloom Newsletter – Winter 2019

IN BLOOM
Winter 2019

“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.” ~ Albert Camus

It feels like the blink of an eye since the holidays and the start of 2019, but so much has happened at Random Acts of Flowers in the first two months of the year. We’re excited to share with you all the news.

Since January 1, we’ve made more than 5,000 deliveries of hope and encouragement, re-purposed more than 1,600 vases, and our dedicated volunteers have served more than 500 hours.

Those are incredible numbers, but what they reveal is the continued and growing need for RAF in our community. Too many people spend the cold days of winter battling illness and isolation, and – thanks to your support – we are able to bring the brightness and hope of spring to them in the depths of the darkest season.

SUPPORT DELIVERING HOPE WITH A DONATION

Last week, we received a huge post-Valentine’s Day donation of flowers from FTD/ProFlowers. We want to give a big, grateful shout-out to our driver Pete and all the volunteers who unpacked boxes and over-packed their cars to assist with delivering these to dialysis centers throughout Central Indiana.

ALL THE JOY YOU GIVE

Soon after RAF Indianapolis opened its doors in 2016, Joan Perry joined the ranks of the volunteer corps. As a person who loves gardening and flowers, Joan recognized plants’ ability to brighten people’s lives, and she loves the fact that the RAF mission combines something she already enjoys with giving back to the community she loves.

She is rightfully proud of her role in bringing “cheer and happiness to the more than 50,000 people who received our arrangements.” And, she also recognizes that participating in the mission brighten her life, too. “Whenever we deliver to the hospitals or nursing homes, we and the staff always gets as much joy out of it as the people on the receiving end.”

Joan shared a couple of stories that touched her heart the most –

“A little lady who looked like she had limited income was standing in the hospital doorway waiting to go home, when I gave her the flowers she had tears, gave me a hug and then hurried down the hallway telling everyone she just got flowers.”

“Another time I delivered to Riley Children Hospital and a little 4 year old girl could not believe the flowers were for her, she kept saying ‘for me for me!'”

Those moments and the happiness they bring, along with the extended family she’s gained at the RAF Indianapolis workshop, including staff Cheryl and Lindsay and her fellow volunteers, has brought her back to the workshop and on deliveries again and again. We are so glad to have Joan as part of our team and grateful to her for delivering hope to so many who need it.