RAF Chicago IN BLOOM Newsletter – Summer 2018

It’s hard to believe that summer is coming to a close and the days have already begun to shorten. As we reflect on the past three months since our last newsletter, it is no surprise that the summer has flown by! We hope you will enjoy taking a minute to read about the many wonderful things going on in our organization. Sure, delivering bouquets to more than 7,000 people these past three months blows us away, and there is so much to share and many days feel like a flower frenzy.

But, it is the simple moments of connection that remind us why Random Acts of Flowers is needed more than ever.Often, when we go on a delivery, the flowers, while gorgeous, are never even mentioned. Instead, they are the way in to a stranger’s life and the medium to tell them we care. On one recent delivery, we met a man who hadn’t had a visitor in over a month. He immediately took out a deck of cards and shared magic tricks. He later told us that this was the best day he had since arriving for rehabilitation.

Another woman, who refused the flowers, chatted with me for a half hour, sharing stories of her grandfather’s lilac bushes and how he called her his “Lilac Girl.” We get so caught up in the “how” sometimes, but we should never forget the “why” of what we do.

As always, I would like to thank the many individuals who volunteer tirelessly. Without their support, we could not celebrate the impact we are seeing daily of how a simple gesture of kindness can change the world. And, thank you for your continued support of our mission!

Sincerely, Andrea

• honored THE BRIGHTEST WEEK on June 17-23, delivering special bouquets to recipients affected by Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. These special deliveries were supported by funding from Eli Lilly and Company.
• displayed an informational and interactive art exhibit at the First Bank of Highland Park, thanks to amazingly talented volunteers and a preserved moss wall donation from HMR Design.
• received and processed THOUSANDS of blossoms following the International Floriculture Expo at McCormick Place, thanks to a generous donation from Reebie Allied Moving and Storage. Bouquets were delivered to 1,799 people in 37 facilities!
• traveled to RAF’s National HQ in Knoxville, TN, at the end of July for a few days of leadership training and a celebration honoring the organization’s 10th birthday!
• spent an afternoon arranging flowers for delivery with shoppers at Macy*s Old Orchard.
• hosted a variety of awesome business and community groups, including ComEd, Food for Thought, Whitney Young High School, Accenture, and a lovely group of ladies celebrating a bridal shower.
• took the show on the road to three of Aetna’s Chicagoland offices to engage employees in floral arranging. Bouquets were delivered to Evanston, Northwestern, and UIC hospitals.

Accuity – a Chicago-based business software firm – has embraced delivering hope as part of their corporate ethos, participated in days-of-service at our workshop and fundraising for our mission within the greater community.For our Summer newsletter, Sarah Libbing from Accuity told us a little more about why the Random Acts of Flowers mission speaks to the Accuity team and to her personally. Because, after a floral arranging event hosted by her employer, Sarah began to volunteer at RAF after work, and she helped arrange a second Accuity day-of-service with their Women’s Network.

Sarah says Accuity is attracted to the RAF mission because “we are able to help in all aspects of the mission – floral arranging, delivery, even hosting vase drives. This is a great way for us to involve a variety of members of our business to come together for the community. I love the floral arranging aspect because it gives me a sense of community and a creative outlet that normally I wouldn’t use in my day-to-day life.”

Sarah’s family inspired her love for flowers, and credits them for teaching her to “lend a hand and make everyone feel welcome, making everyone feel a little love and connection. RAF’s mission is a gesture that [tells someone], you’re not alone or forgotten; you still matter and we want you to feel that way.”

And, Accuity’s dedication to delivering hope doesn’t stop at our workshop doors. Sarah reports that “the Accuity Women’s Network hosted our 2nd Annual Wine Charity Event on August 9th. We raised almost $2,000 for RAF and collected 30+ vases.” Accuity plans to do more events with RAF, and Sarah credits her fellow employees, the Accuity leadership team, and local Evanston businesses for their success.