A Heartfelt Donation to Heliotrope for Hospice
At Heliotrope for Hospice, we are often asked, “When do you know when someone will touch your life… when do you know if you touch someone else’s heart?” As a charity that repurposes donated flowers for those in hospice care, we experience these touching moments frequently.
A Gift of Sunflowers
In 2021, while I was teaching a floral class, a student overheard me mention a Celebration of Life for my mom’s birthday. The following week, she gave me a gift bag. Inside, I found a beautiful composition of sunflowers she had painted, along with a heartfelt note to honor and celebrate my mom.
She also enclosed a poem by Mary Oliver, titled ‘Sunflowers’. The words resonated deeply with me, symbolizing these joyful, simple flowers as elderly people who have lived life to the fullest and have so much to share. Every flower has a life cycle that matches our own – beginning, growing, blooming, fading. No wonder we are bound to flowers. They are a representation of a life well-lived, aligning with our aim to celebrate each day for people in hospice care.
poem by Mary Oliver: Sunflowers
The Power of Giving
This student, Lauren, touched my life deeply with her fearless creativity and willingness to share joy. Her act of kindness not only brought solace but reminded me that part of life’s journey is finding a path thru grief. And my path is with flowers. Believe in the power of giving. Celebrate life, every day, with flowers. I am grateful beyond measure for all of you who support Heliotrope for Hospice, understanding what it means, and knowing that a single flower can make all the difference in the world. Donating to this small charity is one of the most rewarding gifts- every penny goes to flowers that go to people in care.
Lauren’s handwritten note
This November, plant a few seeds, buy a bunch of flowers from the farmer’s market or Trader Joe’s to enjoy or share, or consider making a charitable donation to Heliotrope for Hospice. Remember, when you touch someone’s life with a simple act of kindness, you never know how deeply you might touch their heart.
