Flowers for Friends
Final Grant Report for
Fiscal agent if applicant is not tax exempt:
N/A
Tax ID Number:
81-3152772
Contact First Name:
Contact Last Name:
Christina (Tina)
DeMoore
106 Arlington Avenue, Petoskey, Michigan 49770
Address:
Email:
231.330.2253
Phone Number:
Project Name:
Flowers For Friends Enhanced Outreach Program (FFF²EOP)
Project start and end dates:
Monday, June 1, 2020
Monday, May 31, 2021
Amount Granted From Hestia:
$
500
Project results and Impact
How many girls/women have been served by the project during this project year?
Throughout the unwanted pandemic adventure of the last year, we achieved 1550 points of human contact, about 1/5 of our usual outreach; the overwhelming majority of those recipients were women. The onset of COVID-19 made our mission to reach isolated community members even more urgent and, at the same time, more challenging. As the need for flower deliveries increased, flower donations from weddings, funerals and special events largely vaporized as the lockdown persisted. Beginning in the third quarter of 2020, we were able to safely resume some flower arrangement “drops” to nursing homes and other congregate care facilities but, in order to do so, we had to purchase flowers because of a lack of donated flowers. This was directly in support of our mission but depleted our financial resources, which are typically used primarily for supplies and not flowers.
Goal of the Project
Did you meet your program goals for the grant period?
If yes, how do you know? Please describe any program evaluation you use:
If no, please describe current barriers and how you are working to overcome them:
We would have preferred to reach more recipients but were unable to do so given required lock-downs and safety measures but given the constraints of the pandemic – yes. We were able to reach 1550 isolated individuals in need of a smile at American House Senior Living, Bay Bluffs Emmet County Medical Care Facility, Cross of Christ Church Community Paper Pantry, Harbor Village Senior Citizen Apartments, Harbor Watch Senior Living Community, Hiland Cottage Hospice House Independence Village Assisted Living Facility, the Living Room, Mallard Cove Assisted Living, Meals on Wheels, McLaren Northern Michigan Infusion Center and Dialysis Unit, Perry Farm Village Senior Living, the Petoskey Club, RSVP Seniors and Villa by the Bay. In addition, we made COVID-19 Flowers for Friends “special deliveries” to first responders and postal workers. Our program evaluation derives from qualitative evidence, i.e. the thousands of written communications that we have received (and continue to receive) from recipients over the life of the Flowers for Friends project and the positive feedback that we receive from program coordinators at each of the delivery locations.
Do you have a story of how your program positively changed participant's situation, behavior, or knowledge?
If so, please share it:
“Just a short thank you from a tenant at Independence Village. What a beautiful way to remind us that spring and the end of isolation are on their way. Thank you so much for your lovely gesture.”
“Thank you so much for the flowers you shared with others to make this time in our homes more pleasant. I love flowers.”
“I live at American House in Petoskey. I just received a new bouquet of fresh spring flowers. They cheer me up each time I look at them. Thanks, thanks, thanks.”
“Thanks for the lovely flowers given to me as I left the infusion center. They brightened my kitchen for more than a week!”
“Thank you for ‘expressing love through flowers.’” We residents of Independence Village really appreciate finding lovely floral arrangements you leave outside our doors. I wish you could see our smiles of joy!”
“Thank you for the lovely flowers you sent to us. They cheered every one of us up and brought sunshine our way.”
“Thank you for the bouquet of flowers. It made me feel special.”
“The lovely, beautiful flowers we received from you with our Meals on Wheels brightened up our day and many days after!”
Sustainability
Will this project continue?
If so, how will it be funded?
If not, why not?
Flowers for Friends will continue to be funded by grants and donations.
Public Relations
How did you publicize this grant?
Please list any examples.
We delivered arrangements to every resident of Bay Bluffs and Villa by the Bay along with all Meals on Wheels recipients, each with a card acknowledging the Hestia Women’s Giving Circle. I will forward a picture of the arrangements to you via email. When Flowers for Friends reaches the milestone of 65,000 deliveries, we will submit a press release that recognizes the support of the Hestia Women’s Giving Circle in making that accomplishment possible.
Summary Comments
The only barriers Flowers for Friends faced during the grant period were in the form of COVID-19 restrictions. This year in particular, we had ongoing contact with coordinators at residence facilities and service providers to determine where and when we could deliver flowers and how to do so to comply with facility-unique requirements. We had a number of providers reach out to us when they were able to receive deliveries knowing the need to reach the isolated individuals they serve and the positive impact that the flowers have historically had on those people.We can report to you that the flowers were warmly received and greatly appreciated especially after this year of isolation. The Hestia Women's Giving Circle is a partner in those efforts and was acknowledged in every flower delivery to every resident of Bay Bluffs and Villa by the Bay along with all Meals on Wheels recipients:) We and those recipients greatly appreciate your support.
Grant Final Budget Form
REVENUES
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