There is something new west of us, in our State and hopefully it will spread across the landscape. The “Thanking of You” Bouquet Project is bringing joy into the lives of isolated senior citizens at home.
This interesting project started in western Illinois, to thank senior citizens for just being there, just as nursing home residents and the at-risk elderly are experiencing an eighth straight month of lockdown!
The issue of prolonged isolation for the elderly due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been a real concern for senior provider agencies, and working professionals who deal with seniors through counseling services, exercise and activity programs, nursing homes, independent and assisted living facilities, home-delivered meal-providers and those who serve the disabled populations.
Everyone worldwide is feeling the fatigue of continued shutdowns and dreading the looming long Winter months. For seniors and their caregivers the stress can be immense. Professionals working in the senior provider field continue to hear from family members fearing for the anxiety and isolation their loved ones are feeling.
Somehow a spirit of thankfulness has sprung up, beginning with a florist in Geneseo who decided to offer floral arrangements at cost for anyone who would purchase them for delivery to the elderly in nursing homes.
For several weeks the florist, Designs on the Boulevard, continued to post on social media reports of community members responding and purchasing bouquets. As a result, a total of 287 arrangements recently were delivered to residents at five assisted living facilities in their areas.
The idea caught the attention of a resident in nearby Erie near the rock river north of Geneseo who began a second initiative. Blooms 2 floral shop began offering “Thanking You” bouquets to be delivered by Thanksgiving to elderly residents living at home, letting them know that their neighbors are thankful for them. There are no local nursing facilities in Erie, Illinois, but residents are bringing names of senior citizens who live alone to the florist along with money to purchase bouquets for them. Erie State Bank chose to help jump-start the project with a donation of $200 for bouquets if residents suggest names and addresses for the deliveries.
Amy Mettler owns Blooms-a-latte in Prophetstown and started Blooms2 in nearby Erie in early September. Both stores offer floral services, clothing boutique, and home décor. Mettler works full-time as an office manager for a nearby fabrication shop. As as mall-business owner just starting out in her new locale in a small rural community, the project is an immense undertaking. But Mettler decided it was worth the gamble. She offers a 10% off coupon for future orders to anyone who will purchase one of the bouquets.
“In just a week, we had three whole pages of orders!” said employee Donna Seger. “With the original help of the Erie State Bank donation, we will be able to go through our lists and try to make sure that everyone who’s been identified will receive a bouquet.”
Kathy Young of Erie brought the idea to her florist. She commented, “I believe the children and the elderly have suffered the most during this pandemic. This shop owner is new in town, and she will have a lot to figure out, vases, flowers, and deliveries. Still, I feel like it is a win-win for her. And if I can help our seniors at home in any way at all, I am glad to do so.”
Today, when those most at risk have continued to be most at risk, it is heartwarming to see people coming together. We are more than 100 miles east, but their idea is worth sharing and maybe going viral! Who do we know who could benefit from a pretty bouquet of flowers? What we can do here to say we are “Thankful for You!”
Barb Nadeau is the Community Relations Manager for Voluntary Action Center of Northern Illinois. She is a freelance writer with a long career host television and radio shows, an elected alderman for the city government of Plano, and has worked in volunteer coordination and networking amongst various non-profit social service agencies. Contact Barb at bvnadeau@gmail.com.