Mission Statement
We bring beautiful free donated day-old flowers to residents of senior living communities, hospitals, hospices, cancer treatment centers, recovery houses, adult day care centers, healthcare facilities, mental health facilities and other places where people need a little bouquet of joy to brighten their day. And just sometimes to strangers on the street!
Hi Patricia,
What fun I had putting smiles on so many faces as I freely gave out the gorgeous flowers you entrusted to me last Thursday! I drove out of the church parking lot and saw a postal worker delivering the mail. I pulled over and invited her to look at the beautiful selection of flowers, and asked her if she wanted to take a bunch or two. She could not believe it! She said, "Really?" I told her I was with the Food Pantry and that the flowers had been donated by “ The Flower Lady” - Patricia Gallagher - who collects the day-old flowers from stores. She took 2 bunches, and I asked her if she had a mom or sisters she'd like to give some to. She replied, "They’ll just let them die." So I moved on to the post office where I had to mail a package. I did my business with a lovely postal employee, then went out to the car and brought three bunches in - one for her and two for another customer who could not believe it. She finally accepted them when I told her they were free. Such fun for me! I proceeded on to a shut-in widow friend and gave her some flowers, and two bouquets went to her son-in-law who was doing lawn maintenance for her. I gave him some roses to give to his wife - who is an acquaintance. Then, on to a lovely long-time friend whose 21-month-old nephew had just died. It is such a sad time her family. I only hoped the beautiful flowers would bring a tiny bit of comfort to her heart. We were invited to celebrate July 4th at someone's home, and I took the hostess a bunch of the flowers. An unmarried, wonderful friend turned sixty, and I gifted her with flowers. I am still in wonder at how blessed I feel to share these gorgeous flowers with people who typically never receive them. Thanks a million times over!
I never thought much about flowers and certainly never intended to become known as “The Flower Lady.” The Happy Flower Day Project began in May of 2013. My daughter worked for a non-profit organization. A grocery specialty store donated day-old flowers for their fundraising event. A store representative asked her if she knew of any hospitals, support groups, or nursing homes that might want their “close to expiration date” flowers.
The thought of tossing beautiful flowers away at the end of the day got me thinking, “what if I stopped over there every morning and then made the rounds to pass out bouquets of pansies, orchids, roses, daisies, tulips, and sunflowers?”
My mind raced as I thought of the myriad of places that might need a bouquet of comfort, and joy. What about nursing homes, senior living communities, hospices, half- way recovery houses, homeless shelters, domestic violence centers, cancer support groups, and Meals on Wheels recipients? There was no end to the list of people who might need a lovely bouquet - parents with sick children, the elderly, shut-ins living in their homes, people down on their luck, and foster parents. And wouldn’t a surprise gift of a colorful burst of flowers be good medicine for someone feeling lonely, restless, sad, or worried?
I could rescue the blooms, re-purpose them, and offer people a “random act of flowery happiness.” I could bring them to folks who needed a tangible sign of caring and appreciation.