Sending Smiles ~

It's hard to believe that I became aware of  Homefront just about 20 years ago. My friend Ann was involved in the organization and told me all about it. It was perfect timing for me because I was helping my mother and father move from New Jersey to Virginia. My mom had 2 of just about everything in her kitchen and there was no way we could move it all. Ann told me I could donate all their  "perfectly good" extras to Homefront (then called the Exchange Club) and so she put me in touch with the founder, Connie Mercer. At that time, Connie and her band of volunteers were helping folks that were homeless and living in motels on Route 1 by getting them into "real" housing. Ever since then, we've been donating flowers and balloons for their clients and their special events. Fast forward to 2012 and my "visit" with Connie to Homefront this past Monday, I can't tell you how impressed I am with the amazing organi...

Times are tough, or so they say, but it always feels good to donate your time and/or money whenever possible. As a small business person I try to take advantage of any little angle that I might have to help others. Sometimes it's just donating some flowers to the "Exchange Club" or sending a little money to "Operation Smile" or even giving a basket to be raffled off by the "Girl Scouts" or a local nursing home. It's not big, it's not Earth shattering, but I'm a big believer in the saying "every little bit helps". This brings to mind the kind letter presented to me by our employee Chuck Moscarello. Each year Chuck takes a week off from work here at the flower shop to drive down to Preston County, West Virginia along with dozens of teenagers from the Gregorian Youth Ministry. Once there, these kids and their adult organizers provide help to some of the local towns people with various building projects or repairs. Apparently this are...