RANDOM ACTS OF FLOWERS CHICAGO DELIVERS RECORD BREAKING NUMBER OF BOUQUETS VALENTINE'S DAY WEEK

Evanston – Thursday, February 18, 2016 – Random Acts of Flowers (RAF) Chicago, a nonprofit organization that creates and delivers repurposed flowers to people in area healthcare facilities, delivered Valentine’s Day bouquets to nearly 4,000 individuals who may have otherwise been forgotten.

“The generosity of our floral partners enabled us to deliver more bouquets in one week that we usually do in two months,” said Executive Director Joanie Bayhack.

Bayhack reported that everyone stepped up – RAF Chicago’s national partner FTD/ProFlowers, local florists, grocery stores, brides and event planners. They made it possible for 400 volunteers to bring the joy of flowers and moments of compassion to an even wider range of recipients.

“This Valentine’s Day was special because we are able to touch more lives. We delivered flowers to people at every stage of life—starting with tired mothers who had delivered babies just hours before; we embraced an 89-year-old war veteran who hasn’t had a visitor in four months and a determined rehab patient, who was learning to walk again after a stroke. Her surprise after crossing the 50-yard mark was a vase of pink roses. We also visited hospice and dialysis centers, where smiles and words of appreciation deeply touched our volunteers. The one thing that united us all was the love for flowers and the magical way they make us feel,” added Bayhack.

Random Acts of Flowers Chicago, which just celebrated its one year anniversary, collects and repurposes donated flowers and their dedicated volunteers create and deliver beautiful bouquets to individuals in general and veterans hospitals, nursing homes, rehab and hospice centers.

To date, the organization has delivered more than 21,000 bouquets and recycled 21,000 vases.

To donate, volunteer or deliver, visit www.rafchicago.org or call 847-430-4751.

Contact: Andrea Lutz, andrea@rafchicago.org