You Deserve A Bouquet Today: #For3oMore

Cystic Fibrosis. If you asked me a month ago what this disease was all about, I wouldn’t be able to tell you too much. I didn’t know anyone with CF…until I met Katherine. Katherine was introduced to me by a past client and now friend, Renee Beck. Katherine is a beautiful young woman with a passion for life. She is committed to making a difference in the life of people living with CF. Her story inspired me and reminded me that each of us has the power to make a positive impact on our community. She was a perfect recipient for our You Deserve a Bouquet Today bouquet.

In Katherine’s own words:

“At 16 I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system.Even 13 years later I’m still a long way from fully dealing with what it means to have this disease and the implications it has on my future.

Right now, my life looks like many other 29 year olds?. I have a wonderful husband, fabulous family and friends, and a job that I love. But unlike most people my age, I have to do time-consuming daily treatments, spend countless hours at the hospital, and worry about what my future looks like.

When I was born in 1984, the life expectancy of someone with CF was just 25 – on September 26th I’ll turn 30! And I can’t wait to celebrate the many things this wonderful life has allowed me to do.”

In celebration of her upcoming 30th birthday, Katherine and her friends set out to raise $15,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation over 30 days in September.  #for3omore  has raised $8310 to date and there are still 18 days to go! The way it works: great prizes are donated by local businesses. You bid on the prizes like in a regular auction and try to win.  All the bids are donations to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Local Color Flowers was thrilled to donate a $50 gift certificate for the first day of the auction. Check the site for new prizes this week!

There are still 18 days left. If you’d like to make a donation to Katherine’s fundraiser, check out the auction site. There are amazing prizes to win and you’ll be making a difference in the lives of people suffering from Cystic Fibrosis.

Keep up the amazing work Katherine!! We’re behind you all the way!

You Deserve A Bouquet Today: Water Wheel Trash Interceptor

By Carling Elder

You know how you often you hear a story of someone making a positive change to your city and think, “That’s awesome!” but never actually thank or acknowledge them because you assume someone else will?

Here at Local Color Flowers, we are making it our responsibility to thank the individuals who are making positive changes to Baltimore by re-launching our “You Deserve a Bouquet Today” giveway. We know the work these individuals are doing is never easy, and yet they carry on; their dedication affecting work and play in Baltimore in very meaningful ways.With our favorite medium - locally grown flowers, we hope to let these people know just how grateful we are for their contributions to our city, and to share some LoCoFlo love along the way!

Our first bouquet giveaway was to John Kellett, inventor of the Water Wheel Trash Interceptor. If you haven’t see this Water Wheel, get down to the Baltimore harbor! Floating in the water, the Water Wheel looks like a giant sea creature with a glistening white shell, and solar-panel bug eyes. It’s definitely eye-catching, and as John said, a major attraction for both tourists and Baltimoreans alike. Much cooler looking than a harbor full of trash! 

The Water Wheel works by pulling trash out of the water with a leaf rake. The trash then moves onto a conveyor belt, from which it is dropped into a dumpster. Best part is, the Water Wheel is powered by the renewable energy of the water current, and solar panels! For more information and videos, visit  Facebook (just make sure you have plenty of time - it’s fascinating!).

The best part of giving flowers to John, was actually meeting him, and hearing his story of the Water Wheel’s inception. When John met us at the Water Wheel, speeding up on his motor boat, he told us how the Wheel began. He told us that he worked down in the harbor for years, and each day would walk across the bridge connecting Pier 5 to Harbor East. John said that each day he felt disgusted by the amount of debris he saw floating the water. He stated that he would also hear tourists commenting on how gross the water looked, and said he often felt saddened that a harbor full of trash was often visitors’ first impression of Baltimore.

Something had to change, and John made it his mission to invent a solution to this trash problem. The Water Wheel has already received international press and recognition.

As we handed John his flowers, carefully reaching out over the water, we thought that there are few people more deserving of recognition than John! What this Water Wheel has done for the harbor already is amazing, and it’s only in the beginning of its journey!

June’s “You Deserve A Bouquet Today” Contest Winner: Grandma Barb

Local Color Flowers has been celebrating every day people in Baltimore for over a year with our “You Deserve A Bouquet Today” contest. Each month we accept nominations from folks who write a small explanation as to why their nominee should win. We have happy, sad, funny and just plain weird nominations. We love them all!

June’s nominees were no different. This month’s winner is Grandma Barb! Barb’s daughter Emily nominated her to win writing:

“I am nominating my mother, who really deserves a bouquet today! After working three days a week as a physical therapist, she spends her other two weekdays watching my 10 month old daughter so I can go to work. She is truly an all-star who keeps our family together. Please vote for Grandma Barb!”

Barb received a bouquet of locally grown sunflowers, lisianthus, lilies and asters from Farmhouse Flowers. From the picture, it looks like she liked them!

Congratulations to Grandma Barb! Thanks for being a super mom and grandmom!

Do you have someone you’d like to nominate to win free flowers? All you have to do is submit a short write up about why your nominee should win. We’ll post the submissions for voting and if your nominee has the most votes..they win!

You Deserve A Bouquet Today Contest Winner: The Team at the Baltimore CASH Campaign

The Baltimore CASH Campaign is an amazing non-profit whose mission is to “provide working families access to the tools and services needed to maximize their earning dollars.” One of their most popular and needed services is free tax preparation for low-income individuals. These services insure that low-income do not have to pay the high cost of paid tax preparers and that they benefit from the Earned Income Tax Credit.

One of their tax volunteers nominated the team at the Baltimore CASH Campaign to win March’s “You Deserve a Bouquet Today” contest. Eric wrote:

“The Baltimore CASH Campaign does important work all year as educators and advocates for personal financial empowerment. Sara and her team especially deserve flowers for all the hard work they put in during tax season this year.”

Congratulations to the Baltimore CASH Campaign staff (and volunteers on a job well done! Local Color Flowers is proud to be able to say thank you  for making a difference in the lives of those you serve.

Francesca, Sara and Meghann receiving a beautiful bouquet of locally grown flowers as the winners of LoCoFlo’s “You Deserve a Bouquet Today” contest.

February’s “You Deserve A Bouquet Today” Winner: Ms. Juanita

Ms. Juanita wasn’t prepared to have her picture taken when she received her flowers today.

She was busy getting her ailing husband, Mr. Harold, ready for the doctor. Even though you don’t have a picture of her, you can get a sense of her from what her neighbor Tiffany wrote about her for her nomination:

Ms. Juanita is the block leader and overall neighborhood advocate of our community. She ensures kids in the community have school supplies, participate in summer camp and other resources. Currently she is caring for her ailing husband. Ms. Juanita is simply a generous soul who never complains.

I might add my own impression of Ms. Juanita. When I arrived at Ms. Juanita’s home in Reservoir Hill, she graciously invited me in and excitedly hugged me and excepted her gift. She told me, and Mr. Harold conferred, that when she woke up that morning she said that it was going to be a good day. She was touched that her neighbor and friend nominated her for the contest.

After thanking me profusely, Ms. Juanita walked me to the door and told me that God puts people in our lives at the right time for a reason. She let me know that she had a sick friend that she wanted to send flowers to but wasn’t sure who to call about it. She hoped that she could call me and I could deliver flowers to her friend.

This is exactly why Ms. Juanita won this month’s bouquet. Even as we were trying to celebrate her, and her contribution to Reservoir Hill, she was thinking of someone that she could help-someone that would be cheered with a bouquet of flowers.

Thank you Ms. Juanita for all you do to make people’s lives more joyful. We celebrate you today!

January’s “You Deserve a Bouquet Today” Winner: Amanda

January’s “You Deserve a Bouquet Today” winner is Amanda!  Amanda’s mom nominated her to win by writing:

"I nominate Amanda. She's an inspiration to the young and elderly. Amanda teaches at Patterson Park and encourages students to maintain healthy exercise and eating habits. She gives up her free time to visit and care for her elderly 98 year old grandma. Thank you Amanda for giving so much.”

LoCoFlo is proud to have been able bring flowers to an inspiring, dedicated daughter, granddaughter and teacher!

Congratulations Amanda!

If you would like to nominate someone for March’s “You Deserve a Bouquet Today” contest, just go to the website and tell us why they should win! Make someone’s day by nominating them to win!

December’s “You Deserve a Bouquet Today” Winner: Dena

December’s “You Deserve A Bouquet Today” contest winner is Dena. Dena’s sister Leann nominated her to win and wrote this about her sister:

“Daily routines are never so simple, when a child you have had a stroke and is crippled. Dena, my sister, you are an inspiration. I know it is hard to deal with Sarah's condition. Here are some flowers to let you know I care. With your girls I hope you do share.”

As I pulled up to the winners house today, I saw 2, beautiful red-headed faces waiting patiently in the window.(I guess they were expecting me). They were off from school and they knew that their mom was getting a “special delivery”.

Dena was surprised and excited about the flowers (so were the girls who were jumping up and down saying “mommy won! mommy won!”).

Dena and I both teared up when I read the note her sister submitted. Sarah, Dena’s daughter was in the living room with a  wide, happy smile on her face!

I can’t imagine the challenges associated with caring for a child with special needs. Reading about Sarah’s story on her website/blog, I was instantly struck by how much this family loves each other and what a dedicated, loving mom Dena is to all her girls.

I am so happy that I was able to bring flowers to this super, deserving mom! Congratulations Dena! You Deserve a Bouquet Today!

We are taking nominations for March’s “You Deserve A Bouquet Today” contest. What better way to brighten someone’s day than with a FREE bouquet of flowers. Nominate someone today on our website or through our Facebook page. Share the Love!

Free Flowers…Now On Facebook

As some of you may know, about six months ago we started the “You Deserve A Bouquet Contest”.  For those of you who haven’t heard of it, here’s how it works. Each month, you can submit someone’s name and a short write up about why they should win free flowers. It’s that easy. Readers vote at the end of the contest period and the nominee with the most votes wins. Then, I bring the winner free flowers. No strings attached! What could be better?

Well, now you can submit your nominees right from Facebook. LoCoFlo’s Facebook page is undergoing some changes (thanks to our awesome tech guy). One of the first changes is make the bouquet contest even easier. Now, you can submit your nominees name and info directly from LoCoFlo’s Facebook page.

Check out some of our past winners! They look happy right? Of course they do! They just won FREE flowers!

I’m looking forward to seeing lots of nominees this month from our over 600 Facebook Fans!

November’s “You Deserve A Bouquet Today” Contest Winner: Alyssa

November’s bouquet contest was SERIOUS! We had seven nominees and the late night voting went down to the wire. Apparently, voting was taking place on both coasts and throughout the campus of McDaniel College right up until the midnight deadline. After all that voting, Local Color Flowers is happy to announce that this month’s winner, with 11,000 votes is Alyssa!

Alyssa was nominated by her cousin Alicia who was one of LoCoFlo’s brides this past season. The heartfelt nomination read:

My amazing friend Alyssa also happens to be my cousin-the closest thing to a sister I’ve got. We’ve grown up together and she’s been there for me whenever I’ve needed her, most recently as my matron of honor. Alyssa’s a woman I admire for a whole host of reasons: she’s a dedicated wife, a loyal ally, a loving mother. Flowers aren’t enough to thank her for being her, but I hope they’ll brighten her day.

Alicia and Alyssa on Alicia’s wedding day!

Congratulations Alyssa! How loved you are by so many!

Thanks to Farmhouse Flowers for these beautiful, Maryland grown flowers in mid-December!

If you would like to nominate someone to win December’s “You Deserve A Bouquet Today” contest, nominate them today by going to the contest page on LoCoFlo’s website. Spread the Love! Nominate someone you love today!

October’s “You Deserve A Bouquet Today” Contest Winner: Karl

This month we celebrate Karl! I was especially excited to deliver Karl’s flowers because he was our first male winner!

He was nominated for the contest by his wife Jenny. Jenny wrote:

Karl is not only a great husband and father, he is a great teacher. He has spent the last 16 years teaching at Roland Park Elementary and Middle - helping every child achieve. He gives unselfishly so that the children he teaches feel a sense of accomplishment and achievement.

I image that teaching 7th grade can be rewarding-but challenging. (I remember what I was like in 7th grade!).  Karl seems to be up to the challenge!  Being a positive role model for young people is one of the most important roles a teacher can play. I know that there are families all over Baltimore that are grateful to Karl for his dedication and commitment to the kids at Roland Park Elementary and Middle School!

The kids in the hall agreed that their teacher was pretty great and definitely deserved flowers.

Congratulations Karl! Thanks for all you do for the young people of Baltimore!

If you know someone that deserves to win flowers, nominate them today for November’s “You Deserve a Bouquet Today” contest.