New Asheville Non-Profit Organization Makes People in WNC Smile With Recycled Flowers

Dec. 2, 2008 - PRLog -- In the summer of 2008 co-founders Nancy Pope and Lisa Baker came together to launch a non-profit organization in the Asheville, NC area called Second Bloom. Second Bloom collects cut flowers from grocery stores, weddings, parties, holiday events and other occasions in order to create beautiful, simple flower bouquets for hospice, nursing home, and long term care residents to keep in their rooms.  Since the summer months Second Bloom has developed an interactive web site, http://www.secondbloom.org, and started its first volunteer program in Western North Carolina.  

Second Bloom is in search of volunteers near Asheville that can assist with the Flower Exchange Train and help collect donations, deliver flowers and create floral arrangements.  Trustworthy volunteers over the age of 18, with a valid driver’s license, are needed for floral delivery and pick up.  Volunteers interested in spending time with residents and making small floral bouquets and flower arrangements are also invited to join the team.  For more information visit the web site, http://www.SecondBloom.org.

In addition Second Bloom seeks charitable donations and corporate sponsors to provide financial funding in support of their activities and to fund various projects. In 2008 various Asheville area florists, grocery stores and event centers rushed to provide support and flowers for Second Bloom. Biltmore Estate (Lioncrest, Stable Café, The Inn at Biltmore, The Floral Displays Department), Black Mountain Floral Center, Blossoms at Biltmore Park, Flower Gallery, The Bloom Room, Earth Fare, Fresh Market, Homewood, Coleman Place and The Crest Center have all donated flowers to make floral bouquets. Second Bloom continues to expand their flower donations. Recipients of the flowers include Magnolia Health Care Center, Care Partners Hospice, The Laurels of GreenTree Ridge, The McCune Center, Highlands Farm Retirement Community and Shadybrook Assisted Living.

Baker and Pope were inspired to start Second Bloom for personal reasons. Baker’s love of flowers and plants began as a child when taking flowers to her grandmother at the nursing home became a regular outing with her mother. Pope became involved after nurturing a close friendship with Clara Kaminski, a resident of Pisgah Manor. “We couldn’t resist the idea,” says Baker. “It has become an amazingly heartwarming enterprise to be involved with day after day,” adds Pope. Information about volunteers and charitable donations can be found online at http://www.SecondBloom.org or call (828) 702-0515 or 702-0516.

# # #

About Second Bloom: Asheville's newest nonprofit organization recycles flowers from grocery stores, florists and events in order to make and deliver floral bouquets at nursing homes, retirement communities and long term care facilities. Second Bloom is the inspiration of founders Nancy Pope and Lisa Baker and currently looking for charitable donations as well as local volunteers throughout Western North Carolina.