Random Acts of Flowers by Sharon Holmberg Horn

This week, Sharon Holmberg Horn tells us about her experience volunteering in her community. It's a wonderful story. Enjoy.
Random Acts of Flowers
For months now, I have been thinking about volunteering with a local organization called Random Acts of Flowers. They take flowers that have been donated to them from local florists, weddings, funerals or special events in the area and repurpose them into smaller bouquets that are then delivered to folks in assisted living, nursing homes, hospitals and so on.
I contacted a friend of one of my sister's who works for the organization. When I asked her if she thought Random Acts of Flowers needed more volunteers, she said, "Absolutely!” and "Could you help us on Friday?"
“Sure!” I responded.
That Friday night, a national celebration of Pat Summitt's life was held at Knoxville's Thompson Boling Arena. Pat Summitt was the head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteer
Pat Summitt
basketball team until she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's in 2011. She passed away June 28, 2016.
All of the flowers for that service were donated to Random Acts of Flowers. The flowers were to be rearranged and delivered to residents of local Alzheimer's facilities. I believe over 300 arrangements were created for delivery.
What a great first day for volunteering. You see, my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's last summer. So for me, not only was this an opportunity to serve the community, but also to honor my mom.
I loved meeting new people, and those who know me, know how much I love arranging flowers! I also had the privilege of going with Jan to deliver about 40 arrangements to a local assisted living facility. A sweet experience for sure.
Mom
Doris Holmberg Wolters
It is not coincidental that I got to be a part of We Back Pat! I loved being able to remember Pat Summitt, and assist her Alzheimer's Foundation ... and honoring my own mom. 
God is so good!
Blessings,
Sharon Holmberg Horn
Random Acts of Flowers has locations in Knoxville, Chicago, Tampa Bay, and Silicon Valley, with more coming soon. For more information:
                                             randomactsofflowers.org
The Pat Summitt Foundation and The University of Tennessee Medical Center have formed a partnership to create the Pat Summitt Alzheimer’s Clinic.

 #WeBackPat for more information.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Looking for an Adultier Adult by K. Denise Holmberg

Image
First It Made Me Laugh This Facebook post, by a friend in her early thirties, made me laugh. I remember when I realized I was an adult. Do you? For me, the light went on when the lights went out. The pile of bills I accumulated to “worry about later” had reached great heights. An adultier adult, my mother, told me she actually paid them each month and on time. Imagine that.                                                                                                                                                                                 I realized I was an “older” adult when the pounds I put on during the holidays no longer magically melted away afterwards. I was actually referred to as a middle-aged woman. Ouch. Then It Made Me Think That was mentally and physically, but what about spiritually? There is a lot of truth in the idea of looking for an “adultier adult” in the spiritual realm.  A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of having
Read more

The Long Goodbye by K. Denise Holmberg

Image
Alzheimer’s. It cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. It's estimated over five million Americans currently have it. Including my mother-in-law, Doris Holmberg Wolters. As we face, what someone called ‘the long goodbye', I want to share some of her spiritual Doris Holmberg Wolters insights from days gone by. As you read her words, keep these thoughts with you: She was raised as a latchkey kid in a poor Boston neighborhood. Her father was a drunk and a scoundrel. He abandoned his family when she was very young. She struggled financially most of her life, was widowed in her early sixties, landed in a wheelchair in her seventies, and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her eighties. Through it all ... her mantra in life has always been, “ choose joy .” The Struggle by Doris Holmberg Wolters Butterflies by Doris Holmberg Wolters Oh dear, so that’s the culprit that has been feasting on the fruit of my labor. A caterpillar just made lace out of the lea
Read more

A Shepherd's Christmas Story by K. Denise Holmberg

Image
Shepherds and Angels Aaron jerked to his feet. “Lo, what is that light in the night sky?” Samuel looked at me anxiously. “Yes, what is it Micah?” he said.  A single star sat on high above the small village of Bethlehem. It was so bright it was unnatural.    "It's nothing," I lied. I shuddered and felt for the dagger at my side. I knew it was an omen ... a sign of something to come ... good or evil. But this was the first time my young cousins had charge over their flocks. I didn't want to scare them. I wanted them to love their occupation and their new abode. Even if these isolated pastoral fields would sometimes keep them in loneliness. Samuel was stout in heart and limb and more watchful than most. He was much like me that way. Aaron was thin, but strong and tall with a keen mind. He would have been more suited for the priesthood, but his father’s sheep needed a shepherd. They both held a strong hold on my affections. We sat down by fi
Read more