Flower Buds Deliver 100 Vases Weekly in Louisville

Volunteers gather inside Crescent Hill Baptist Church in Louisville each week to work with fresh cut flowers. The group, known as the Flower Buds, spends its time cutting, cleaning, and arranging blooms into vases. They then transport these arrangements to local facilities that serve residents and patients.

The organization operates on a consistent weekly schedule. Volunteers report delivering approximately 100 vases every week. Since starting their work in 2006, the group has delivered more than 90,000 vases of flowers. This long-term effort has transformed a small circle of helpers into a larger team. The group began with six to eight members. It now counts 40 active volunteers.

The flowers come from various sources in the community. Wholesalers, supermarkets, florists, and event organizers donate stems that might otherwise be discarded. Jodie Raible, a Flower Buds volunteer, noted that stores like Kroger sometimes overbuy inventory. Raible said the store allows the group to pick up unsold flowers. The volunteers then prepare the stems for delivery.

Delivery routes include nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and shelters. Stephanie Mullins, a volunteer who has served for 18 years, takes flowers to Up for Women and Children. This location serves as a day homeless shelter for women. Mullins stated that she wanted to work with flowers after retiring. She has continued this work for nearly two decades.

Clem Russell, a veteran and volunteer, focuses on delivering to the VA hospital. He brings arrangements to the hospice unit. Russell said the patients and their families are happy to see the flowers arrive. He noted that seeing the blooms helps cheer people up during the end stages of life. Raible agreed, saying that patients want to feel encouraged.

The volunteers emphasize practical use of donated materials. Mullins said that many of the flowers would otherwise be thrown in the garbage. The group puts them to good use by placing them in the hands of those in care. The process involves immediate action after the flowers arrive at the church. Volunteers work quickly to ensure the blooms remain fresh for their recipients.