Siloam Flowers and Gifts delivered arrangements of chocolate kisses to the city's police and fire departments on Wednesday and Thursday of last week as part of Teleflora's Make Someone Smile Week.
Melanie Pentacost, owner of the business and treasurer of the Teleflora Arkansas Unit Board, said Siloam Flowers and Gifts has participated in Make Someone Smile Week for the past five years, delivering arrangements to locations such as local nursing homes and the Siloam Springs Regional Hospital. This year she decided to present Be Happy Mugs filled with Hershey's kisses to firefighters and police, she said.
"There has been so much negativity towards all service men and women lately," Pentacost said. "We just want to let our fire department and police department know we appreciate their hard work to keep our community safe. We should all feel very grateful for our city employees. We thought chocolate might be a better fit for these hard workers."
Teleflora, the leading flower delivery service, held Make Someone Smile Week July 19 through July 25. Teleflora member florists and community volunteers delivered Be Happy Bouquets to those who need smiles such as hospital patients, senior citizens living in nursing homes and assisted living homes, and recipients of Meals-on-Wheels programs, according to a press release from the company.
Teleflora's 40 units across the country received donations of more than 25,000 of the company's Be Happy Mugs to be given to participating member florists. Member florists across the country worked with local wholesalers and growers to secure donations of flowers, the release stated.
In 2015, more than 1,000 florists donated their time and delivered about 30,000 bouquets for Make Someone Smile Week. The program spanned over 150 cities and 300 facilities throughout the United States and Canada, the release stated.
"Each year, I'm amazed by the turnout of local Teleflora florists who are willing to take time out of their busy shops to design bouquets and surprise residents in their communities with fresh floral arrangements in support of Make Someone Smile Week," said Rich Salvaggio, vice president of industry relations and floral publications for Teleflora. "The feedback of gratitude and delight from organizations and residents who receive the flowers is overwhelming. And it makes me smile to know that the hard work and energy the florists take to make this week special for local residents in their communities is worth it."
General News on 07/27/2016