The Flower Ministry of Hospice Ministries
Luther Burbank said, “Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food, and medicine for the soul.” Flowers often remind us of home and of happy times during seasons of life. It is doubtful that there is anyone who would refuse a beautiful bloom on any day.
This sunshine is a beautiful part of a dedicated ministry at Hospice Ministries, and it began in 2002 when two ladies from Christ United Methodist Church felt led to share their love for flowers with people in their community who could use a smile and a good memory of more pleasant times. This was the beginning of the flower ministry at Hospice Ministries, and it has continued blessing patients and families since that first visit by Julianne Summerford and Susan Haltom more than 17 years ago.
“Every Sunday our church had beautiful large flower arrangements in the sanctuary, and our pastor would take them to Hospice Ministries on Monday so that they could be enjoyed through the rest of the week. He asked one week for volunteers to help break the large arrangements down into smaller arrangements so that hey could be used in patient rooms, offices, and nurses stations throughout the week. Susan and I volunteered and have been coming to Hospice Ministries every week since,” says Julianne. “After a few years, when we stopped using the large arrangements in our sanctuary, we had to go to Plan B. We started visiting two local grocery stores to ask for the flowers that they weren’t going to use anymore. We built good relationships with those stores, and now they are the supplier of our flowers for the ministry.”
Today, the flower ministry has expanded to not only Mondays but Fridays as well, and it consists of volunteers from all walks of life. “We’ve had professional florists, family members, people who just want to be guests and help for the day, and many other people who love making a room pretty and making people smile with flowers,” says Susan. “Many times a family member of a patient in the facility will come out and help. It can be a great therapy for family members.”
“Every patient gets an arrangement in their room. We even take special requests. Many of our patients connect with home when they see the flowers. It reminds them of happy times and that’s why we do what we do – we want to make life special for people in their last days,” says Susan.