Give the Gift of Flowers

Source: Google Images via weddingsjubilee.blogspot.com

Saturday was my last event of the year. It was a corporate holiday party at Founders Hall and my colleague Barbara of From This Day Forward Special Events provided beautiful holiday arrangements for the guest tables. After the event, I just couldn't imagine these flowers going to the trash, which many times they do when a happy home has not been identified for them after the wedding or event.

I do know of one hospital in uptown that happily accepts flowers for their patients who've been moved into hospice, but being located in Huntersville, I also wanted to find a local nursing home.

I scoured Google and my phone in search of a nursing home that would benefit from beautiful flowers. After a 10 minute search, I found Carolina Medical Center Huntersville Oaks. The staff was so friendly and I was actually able to go around the nursing home and gift some of the residents with the beautiful floral arrangements. :-)

After your event, please donate your flowers and extend the joy.

Here are two locations that accept flowers:

Huntersville Oaks
12019 Verhoeff Drive
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-863-1000

Presbyterian Hospice and Palliative Care
200 Hawthorne Lane
Charlotte, NC 28204
704-384-3527

Giving Back in Charlotte

This week my husband and I had dinner at The King's Kitchen in uptown. This restaurant is very unique and special! They not only have great food, but they are also a non-profit whose mission is to "Feed the hungry and heal the brokenhearted".

The restaurant employs a segment of the Charlotte community "that is considered unemployable, from people who have come out of prison and rehab, to youths that are at high risk from dropping out of school". They then donate profits and/or food to centers that provide meals to individuals in need.

If you have not been to The King's Kitchen in Charlotte it's a must!

Here is a list of some the organizations that they partner with:
The Harvest Center
Hoskin's Park Ministries
The Branch Church
Freedom House Church
Jacob’s Ladder Job Center
Commando’s For Christ

Giving Back

I'm on the Fundraising Committee for LifeSpan Farm Therapeutic Riding Center and have been diligently working on our 2009 fall event titled Cluckfest alongside my other committee members, Jennifer and Regan.

LifeSpan Farm is a great organization in Charlotte located off of Beatties Ford road. They provide equine assisted activities for children and adults with development disabilities. This organization is very dear to my heart because while working at the Ad Council in New York I had the pleasure of working with Autism Speaks, another outstanding non-profit, for three years on their public service advertising campaign. Creating awareness about autism and other developmental disorders is so key for early detection, acceptance and support.

This Saturday, October 24th please join LifeSpan Farm for our 2009 Cluckfest event which will include a trick or treat trail, pumpkin patch, various games and activities, face painting, hay rides, and more. Attendees will also be able to purchase plates of fried chicken to help raise money for the program while enjoying tunes from DJ Chris Roland.

Hope to see you there!

Saturday, October 24th
11am-3pm
3701 Kidd Lane
Charlotte, NC 28216

We are also in need of a few more volunteers. If you would like to help please give me a call at 704-975-9941. Thanks!