Kathy from Fort Myers sent Auntie Anne 8 cards!

I am still enjoying being The Flower Lady. As you can see today, I had stacks of boxes and bags of beautiful flowers. Yesterday, 35 bouquets went to the residents of Harlee Manor, to toll collectors at two different turnpike exits, a man who held a door open for me at the Sunoco mini-mart, to a young man in a store,  and 50 bouquets went to grateful residents of a Rehab in Malvern.

I went to my PO Box today and was delighted to find 8 white envelopes, in a variety of sizes……with a return address from Kathy in Florida. A little pink post-it note said,” Saw your request for cards for your Aunt Anne on Blaine Greenfield’s weekly update newsetter.”

I am just so touched that this kind lady purchased beautiful greeting cards, wrote a handwritten message in each……I HOPE THIS CARD BRIGHTENS YOUR DAY! and on another: I HOPE THIS CARD BRINGS A SMILE TO YOUR DAY! And sentiments on the cards said: You are in my heart. Sending you a big hug. The cards have pictures of cute polar bears, little children hugging each other.

And so the cards brightened the day for Auntie Anne and the other residents who get to open the cards from compassionate strangers – from all over the country. Thank you, Kathy B. for going way out of your way and to such expense to give a gift of love to Auntie Anne. Your cards touched her heart! And mine too.

No More Cards Needed for Auntie Anne Sunshine Club!

Thank you to all who sent cards and little gifts to my aunt in the nursing. Mission accomplished. Brought her happy moments and made her room look cheery. I have a lot of other projects cooking so I am putting this one behind me. I really appreciated all that my FB friends did. I am going to concentrate on the Happy Flower Day Project!

Auntie Anne received riddles, picture of Oscar the cat and drawings from little kids

Aunt Anne loved the riddles, cards from little kids……and the bouquets of flowers

Blaine and Cynthia from SC had a novel idea. They bought a bunch of very pretty greeting cards and put a message – Greetings from Asheville, South Carolina and a few other words. Enclosed was a large piece of paper with a riddle and a graphic. Simple and cute riddles that made Aunt Anne smile. And then read over again to the next person that came in the room for their enjoyment too. They enclosed extra cards that I could give to her room-mate Margaret. Margaret happily opened three cards.

Barbara P from Florida sent a pretty card with a nice note and enclosed a picture of Oscar, her cat. She said that she would write again to see how she was doing.

And lots of colorful drawings and letters from the second and third graders – kids with names like Cole and Asher…..asking her if  she likes camping, BINGO and telling all about themselves and their families. And their excitement about summer vacation. And most of them signed with the word Love!

Thank you, everybody. Auntie Anne, Baby Bridget and some family members spent an hour and a half with her enjoying cold lemonade, cookies and a nice pile of  happy thoughts. All of the staff and residents loved the beautiful bouquets donated by Trader Joe’s.

Odd places for the flowers today – gas station with the amazing Mexican young man and others!

WHERE FLOWERS WENT TODAY:

1. I watched a lady pull into the parking spot next to me. She hit the car next to her car. A big gash and dent. She knew she banged it. I wondered if she would just pull out and leave the scene. She took a piece of paper and left a note on the windshield and I watched as she waited for the person to return to the damaged car. The person who looked at the car was very upset. While they were exchanging info, I grabbed a piece of scrap paper and wrote a note to the lady who did the damage. I witnessed how you did not just drive away. A lot of people would have just done that. I know that you are very upset. I would be too. I grabbed a beautiful bouquet and the note and was going to put on HER windshield but she returned at that moment. Her eyes teared up and she thanked me.

2. At a WAWA in NJ, I gave flowers to the man who pumped my gas. Oh, thanks so much. My daughter graduates tonight.

Then, I asked if he wanted a couple of extra for other family members so 3 for the graduate and her family members.

3. A young man came over, another WAWA employee. I asked him if he would like some for his mom, girlfriend, aunt or grandmom. He smiled and said yes. I went into WAWA to get a soda and when I came out, he asked me about why I pass out flowers. I told him how Trader Joe’s donates them to me and I take them to hospitals and nursing homes. He reached into  the window with a bunch of dollar bills. “Ma’am, here take my tips. I want you to have them. It will pay for your gas.” Of course, I would not take tip money from a young man about 18. I asked what country he was from. He said Mexico. My eyes teared up at his very kind gesture.

4. I asked a young man for directions.  He answered my questions cheerfully. Yes, he got two bouquets. Rockledge area.

5. 50 bouquets went to Cadbury Nursing Home in Cherry Hill, NJ.

All in a day’s work……flower work, that is!

Delivered the Sunshine Club Cards to Aunt Anne – glorious!

Thank you. Thank you. Thanks a million!

Delivered the 32 greeting cards and 55 bouquets of flowers! What a glorious day.

A week or so ago, I posted a request to send cards and little things of encouragement to me – that I could take to my Auntie Anne who lives (unhappily) in a nursing home. Today, I had the most wonderful time sharing 32 greeting cards with her. The beautiful greeting cards and pretty envelopes came from Florida, Minnesota, PA , NJ and other places in between.

I was struck by the extreme kindness of my FB friends who shared the request with others……and to all of the people whom  I do not even know…..who took the time to buy a card and write a very personal message to my elderly aunt. Your random act of kindness means so much.

There were enclosures of holy cards of the Good Shepherd and a  classic Guardian Angel picture that she said she has loved since she was a little girl. There were some home-made cards, gorgeous store-bought cards, a little booklet with a decorative ribbon that told her she was remarkable, butterfly pictures, a baby on a beautiful card, and typed letters – one even signed “With admiration” from a person who cited some of the things that I shared  about Aunt Anne in my original request.

Cheryl sent a book for mothers to fill out their memories and inspirational cards that told her she was special – I taped them to her closet. I hung some of the cards around her room and did the same for her room-mate Margaret. A postcard came from Florida that talked about the summer heat and the pretty flowers that are there year round.

The Brownies from Levittown sent a bunch of cards with a picture of the little girls in the troop and a photo of a pet gerbil. The Scout leader wrote a separate message. Someone else sent a card with an adorable baby photo on the front that she loved. And someone sent six cards so she could open one each morning for the next six days. Just about everyone signed their names with the word Love.

I wish that I could thank you all in person or with a personal note but I can see that I will not be able to acknowledge everyone. Please know I appreciate everything so very much and your compassion and love for a lady in a nursing home means so much.

One sent a photo of her husband and two sons. On the back of the photo, each family member had written a note. Another sent a picture of her garden and fountain. Each card was absolutely lovely, personal, touching and so appreciated by Aunt Anne and by me. The social worker came in and smiled as we showed her the bounty of greeting cards. A few people promised to stay in touch.

Some of the card senders wrote about their own parents, how they admired the wisdom of seniors, how they hoped she was having a good day. Others recognized her for all of the good she has done for others in her life. And talked about the wisdom of someone who has lived 88 years.

I am just amazed at  the goodness of strangers. Honestly, you brought so much sunshine to a lonely lady.

I wanted to bring the cards home with me so that I could type snippets of the thoughts and wonderful things that people did…….but I could not take them away from her! She asked me to put them on her nightstand so she could look at them later. So some are on the table and some are taped to the outside door of the closets………you have all done a random act of kindness that made an afternoon much brighter for Aunt Anne.

Good news: She may be getting her replacement hearing aids on Monday. The nursing home lost them five months ago…….and with the bureaucracy…….well, they were not replaced.  She has been a “prisoner” with no way to communicate.

I went to an outdoor concert – a lady asked if I was The Flower Lady

I went to an outdoor concert about an hour from my house. The lady sitting next to me leaned over and said, “I know you! Aren’t you the Flower Lady that brings flowers to the McDonald’s on Markley Street?  I asked you for a ride and you drove me home because it was so cold. We sat outside and talked about my sons for an hour, remember?”

I did remember because the situation that she was dealing with was pretty horrific. Two young men who were definitely on a detour from the straight and narrow.

“Yes, I do remember. How are your sons now?”

“I had to put them away.”

We hugged. I said that I wanted to go to the snack bar but I really felt so brokenhearted about the two boys.

Here are just some general pictures of some flower recipients. None of the pictures are of the lady and sons described above.

See the flowers in the boxes? Just waiting for me to pick up each morning.

Some ladies in Minnesota reached out to Auntie Anne’s Sunshine Club!

Happy Flower Day Project still blooming smiles! My two helpers are Baby Bridget and on occasion, my dog Eddie, who is 15 years old. Baby, bouquets and doggie – all sharing the love! Thank you, Trader Joe’s!

Hi Patricia,

Even though we have never met personally, we heard about the Sunshine Club for Auntie Anne. Bless you, Patricia! You’re starting another heart-touching, WOW kind of movement. Look for a care package from Cheryl and Haley at Gently Spoken soon. We mailed Aunt Anne a care package yesterday. Please give our love to her from some ladies in Minnesota.

Cheryl

Just heard from a teacher – getting the Aunt Anne cards rolling!

Of course, I am still The Flower Lady delivering beautiful bouquets of donated flowers to residents of nursing homes……more than 30,000 delivered as a Random Act of Flowers Project……and another little project for my Auntie Anne.

Dear Trisha,

Several friends, a Brownie troop and my friend’s 4th grade are sending cards next week for the Aunt Anne Sunshine Card Club.    Maureen

My goal is 1500 cards. Not only for Aunt Anne but for the other residents as well. Then they will all have greeting cards to open each day. Please send your greeting cards with an enclosure if you would like such as a recipe, prayer, joke, cute picture, inspirational article…….anything that would be a conversation starter or a day brightener for Auntie Anne and the other lonely ladies who do not receive many visitors, cards or tokens of joy. Please spread this request with others so we can reach our goal of 1500 Get Well and Cheer greeting messages. I will take the cards to the nursing home weekly and have a LET’S OPEN ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL CARDS PARTY!

Thank you so much.

Aunt Anne Sunshine Club

Patricia Gallagher

Box 561

Worcester, PA 19490

Sunshine Card Club for Aunt Anne – received 4 cards this week

This project will end on December 31, 2015. Not ongoing

This is a picture of Aunt Anne. She loves greeting cards and opening mail. Her days in a small nursing home room are pretty bleak these days as most of the relatives live out of state and she does not get many visitors. The staff lost her hearing aids so she has not been able to hear for five months. Everybody has an extra note card/greeting card and stamp laying around, right?

Can you just write a little message of good wishes to Auntie Anne? She loves holy cards, religious articles, jokes, recipes and other things that you might be able to fit into an envelope. Maybe a picture of your garden, your grandchild, a vacation photo….anything that can just brighten her day.

Her mind is sharp but she does not seem to have any reason to get up in the morning. Her spirits are low. My idea is that people will send cards to my PO BOX and I will take them down to her. She lives about an hour from me. Hopefully, she  will have 5 cards each day to open. We will hang them up and share with the other residents too.

Today, I went to my box and saw 4 cards. They were from Morrisville, Ocean City, Havertown and Philadelphia. Can you please share this request on your social media venues? With your co-workers, an organization that you belong to, with your friends? This  Sunshine Project will mean so much to her. Thank you very much. I am sorry that I will not be able to respond to everybody who sends a card but please know that your random act of kindness will mean so much to Aunt Anne. Let’s see if we can get the Sunshine Club for Aunt Anne to go viral. Thousands of cards for her and the other residents. Wouldn’t that be grand?

Please send to:

Aunt Anne

Patricia Gallagher, Box 561, Worcester, PA 19490

My email is: storiesforseniors@gmail.com

http://www.patriciausa.com

Huh? Four people from Norway and 1 from Canada searched Happy Flower Day Project today

I rarely have visitors to my Happy Flower Day Project site that are from outside of the USA. Today one view from Canada and four views from Norway.

Seeing my mother’s friends now in nursing homes while flowering – grateful

I am more grateful than ever that I have the Happy Flower Day Project as a purpose each day. At least once a week, I meet someone that I knew from “way back when…..” – the parents of my friends, my mother’s neighbor, someone from an organization that I belonged to a long time ago. These seniors are about my mother’s age – she would be 89. I look into each of their eyes, I give them a bouquet and I wish them everything that I would wish for my own mother. I pretend that each person that I see is my parent or me in 20 years…..what would I want someone to do for my mother or for me? Being the Flower Lady is a cherished gift. I can never feel blue or down in the dumps. When I know that the beautiful bouquets are brightening someone’s day……someone like my mother or her friends, I smile and thank God for the opportunity to share the 34,124 bouquets of flowers donated by Trader Joe’s during the past  two years.

Just some pictures of my daily “random acts of flower-ing around the Delaware Valley area.

Stopped by a Baptist church for flowering – stayed for the service

I just planned to leave the 50 bouquets in the lobby. The usher immediately “ushered me” into a pew. The pastor noticed the newcomer – it was an African-American congregation and I was the only Caucasian and 5’11. Hard not to notice. He asked me to stand and introduce myself. Wonderful singing, meaningful sermon and very welcoming people. Think I will go to their 11 am Bible Study session this week – maybe with Baby Bridget!

I was in the doctor’s office – another flower “pass it along” opportunity

I was in the waiting  room for a dermatology check-up appointment and passed out 10 bouquets to patients and 12 to the staff. A man asked me if I had ever gone to a facility near Quakertown.  He and his wife were on their way there to visit a friend. He asked if he could have an extra bouquet for his friend. “Would you like more than one?” He kiddingly said he could use a whole bag of flowers.  I guess there were about 20 beautiful bouquets in the white trash bag.

I just received an email from the activity director there.

Trisha,

A man and his wife brought flowers to us that were given to him by you. We immediately arranged them in vases. His wife used to volunteer here and his daughter-in-law works here. Thanks so much.

People with cars broken down on road – flowering opportunities

I was just thinking about some of my favorite flowering capers – and I love surprising people with bouquets when it appears that they are having a bad day. Yep, folks with cars with dead batteries in mall parking lots, two ladies near tears after a fender bender accident on Egypt Road in Audubon, a tractor trailer with its big hood raised –  parked on the edge of Route 73 with two burly truck drivers sitting on the grass….waiting for some type of assistance……..and of course the turnpike toll collectors and the cashiers at the McDonald’s drive-thru restaurants. And ladies at the senior centers’ gyms doing their exercises and folks learning line dancing, seniors at the VFW dances and at the Polish Home, flowers for “Senior Citizen Proms,”  and men doing construction work on Markley Street and people who are ill at home, people waiting for their doggies to be groomed at a posh dog grooming place, dental office waiting rooms, cashiers at mini-marts and customers,  people shopping in retail stores, valet parking attendants, person collecting parking fee at Abington Hospital pigeon-hole parking lot, folks walking to their cars in a hospital parking lot, people walking dogs

….and of course lots of nursing home home residents and hospital patients. (You will see a lot pictures of staff with the bags of flowers,  because they help me to distribute them. In some places, I am not able to take pictures of the residents because of the privacy laws.)

Happy-Lookin’ Flowers and Happy Lookin’ Staff and Residents of Nursing Home

Catholic Newsletter – “Three Minutes a Day”

Help Make the Happy Flower Day Project – go viral – anybody can do it, anywhere in the world!

This empty-nester mom has a cause! Baby Bridget and I are “on the go” and having the time of our lives! We are flowering for a simple reason – to bring joy to people who need a little gift of petals and blooms. A little day-brightener!

For two years I’ve been picking up day-old flowers from Trader Joe’s and delivering them to anyone that I think needs  cheering up. On my regular rounds, every morning, I visit hospitals, nursing homes, recovery houses, people who are ill at home, even catch people stopping in for coffee at WAWA and Starbucks. People pumping their gas all get a surprise bouquet – no cost, no strings attached.

Just a big and beautiful bouquet!  I even go to train stations and bus stops. I call this my Happy Flower Day Project.  To date, I’ve watched smiles bloom on  32,000 faces.

I have a new grand-daughter, Bridget, who is 7 months old. When I watch her, she joins me with her cute little “melt your heart” smile. She is a natural happy tonic, better than medicine for the nursing home residents……when we go on  “random acts of flowering capers.”

A baby and a bouquet. A perfect way to start my day! We hand flowers to anyone who seems to need them.

This empty-nester mom has a cause! Baby Bridget and I are “on the go” and having the time of our lives! We are flowering for a simple reason – to bring joy to people who need a little gift of petals and blooms. A little day-brightener!

For two years I’ve been picking up day-old flowers from Trader Joe’s and delivering them to anyone that I think needs  cheering up. On my regular rounds, every morning, I visit hospitals, nursing homes, recovery houses, people who are ill at home, even catch people stopping in for coffee at WAWA and Starbucks. People pumping their gas all get a surprise bouquet – no cost, no strings attached.

Just a big and beautiful bouquet!  I even go to train stations and bus stops. I call this my Happy Flower Day Project.  To date, I’ve watched smiles bloom on  32,000 faces.

I have a new grand-daughter, Bridget, who is 7 months old. When I watch her, she joins me with her cute little “melt your heart” smile. She is a natural happy tonic, better than medicine for the nursing home residents……when we go on  “random acts of flowering capers.”

A baby and a bouquet. A perfect way to start my day! We hand flowers to anyone who seems to need them.

Just received this from a friend in Ocean City –

Hi Trisha,

Wow!  You’re famous!  I’ve been receiving this blog for several years now and this is the first time I’ve known someone they wrote about.  Way cool!  Hope all is well!  Love, Lorie

Here is the link to the Christopher Newsletter.

https://mail.aol.com/webmail-std/en-us/suite

Only one little flowery thing to update. At the point that the Christopher News Notes received info about the Happy Flower Day Project, only 17,000 bouquets had been passed out. Over 32,000 as of now. The two year anniversary of starting the project is next week.

Video – Flowering in Doylestown senior facility

We start our daily deliveries of flowers every morning with a jolt of coffee from McDonalds. I call my deliveries "random acts of flowering." I send a silent...

A Mother’s Passing. A Daughter’s Cause.

A Mother’s Passing. A Daughter’s Cause

After Patricia Gallagher’s mother passed away, April, 2014,  Patricia wanted to do something to honor her mother’s goodness – as a legacy. Her mother lived her life performing acts of daily charity and living the tenets of the Corporal Works of Mercy.  “Feed the Hungry. Give Drink to the Thirsty. Take Care of the Sick. Visit the Imprisoned.” 

In March, Patricia found herself obsessively listening to a musical CD marked “Mom’s Favorite Songs” which was  in the “junk drawer” of her mother’s kitchen.  The song that motivated Patricia to conceive of the idea for Claire’s Front Porch was the song “Here I Am, Lord.” 

That was the song that her mother sang enthusiastically; sang way above the other parishioners at Sunday Mass. Often, you could hear her voice singing church hymns, while standing in her kitchen preparing her famous Campbell’s Soup Chicken and Rice Casserole, the recipe that always got rave reviews from her family.

Here I am Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go Lord
If you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart. 

Her daily prayer was, “Lord, who can I help today? Who needs me? Send me where You need me.” And she listened to His answer.

In her 88 years, Claire volunteered at prisons, taught a Bible Study for women in recovery, had eight biological children, (four died), had five foster children, adopted one, wrote 13 books for children on Christian themes, taught 5th grade, graduated from Villanova University at the age of 58, was honored as Valedictorian, tutored struggling students for free, and was married for 54 years. 

So in her memory, Patricia would like to open Claire’s Front Porch. 

Claire’s Front Porch is a place to rest, be nurtured and take a break from daily cares. It is a beautiful and peaceful gathering place,  located in a suburb of Philadelphia. It is a large sunny porch in a big old house…… for those seeking solace, laughter and social support. A place of hope….. a place for everyone. 

For many people, their days consist of doing for others, and carving out very little time for themselves. Sometime, the responsibility of worrying about family problems is just too much. Perhaps, addictions, health problems, a loved one incarcerated, disabilities, or caring for a mentally or physically ill family member have zapped your spirit and drained you. 

Sometimes it is the little things that can brighten a person’s day – a kind word, a listening ear, a place to vent your feelings. Sometimes it is a place like Claire’s Front Porch that can make a difference in your day.

Perhaps, someday soon, you will be rocking on the sunny and serene porch with a soothing cup of Celestial Seasonings chamomile, ginger, lemon or fruity tea, on the lovely porch created in Claire’s memory. 

If you listen closely, you might hear her comforting words in your mind.  You might even feel a tap on your shoulder from one of Heaven’s newest angels. “Honey, I know what you are going through. Put your hand in the Hand of God. It is better than a light and safer than a known way. Fear can hit you when you least expect it. God has shown up for me many times. Be not afraid. He goes before you always. He will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

Stop on by! We’ll leave the Porch Light on for you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcxOkht8w7c

Here I Am, Lord

 I, the Lord of sea and sky,

I have heard My people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear My light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them, They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak My word to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them,
My hand will save
Finest bread I will provide,
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give My life to them,
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I, Lord?

I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.