Building Hope & Community
UPS workers in action, delivering flowers to community members near and far
After several days of delivering thousands of flowers in our communities, the number of plants delivered hardly made a dent in the amount of flowers that remained in our greenhouses. Reflecting on the labor committed to growing these gorgeous flowers, and the potential loss at stake, we tossed and turned at night thinking of viable solutions. A light bulb came on when we thought about one of our close family members that worked as a supervisor at UPS.
We gave him a few boxes of flowers adorned with a note that went out with each of our flower deliveries. Our hope was to deliver these flowers to UPS workers in appreciation of their efforts during the beginning of the pandemic. UPS had remained fully operational throughout crisis, making the world go round with packages delivered world wide. Our attached note read:
After handing these flowers out and seeing employee reactions, he asked his boss if UPS would be willing to have drivers deliver these flowers with their packages. Shortly after, with a resounding yes from UPS corporate, approximately 30,000 flowers were delivered to homes and businesses from Utah and California-based UPS hubs. The responses we received from individuals warmed our hearts and solidified our sentiment that, through flowers, we can spread happiness and joy to our neighbors and communities. Out on a walk with her family, our marketing director, Cherilyn Smith, ran into a friend, Neil Walter.
He expressed his love and appreciation for what was being done with the flowers in our community and expressed interest in expanding our efforts. Along with his company, ERA Brokers Consolidated, he offered to pay for all shipping supplies and freight expenses to send a full truck out to NYC, where they were particularly hit hard with the COVID-19 crisis. Shortly after this conversation, Cherilyn began research and learned of NYC Health + Hospitals. She spoke with one of the directors to inquire if the hospital could potentially receive flowers and distribute to the nurses and doctors on the frontlines.
Neil had connections with Jim Castimore of Casco Salt, based in New Jersey, who agreed to accept a semi-truck load of 15,000 flowers. The flowers were then delivered to nursing homes in New Jersery and six NYC Health + Hospitals. From coast to coast, love was shared and communities were brought together. Alongside ERA Real Estate, Milgro felt the appreciation from those that had received flowers. As shared in the card delivered with Milgro’s flowers, we truly feel the power of community and coming together, especially in trying times. It brings so much joy to grow roots in homes and communities, both near and far.
A UPS worker carefully placing flowers at a neighbor’s doorstep
Frontline healthcare worker rejoicing in the power of flowers