Receiving flowers can improve well-being by lifting spirits, so the folks at local florist, Buds and Blooms in Sparwood have been delivering flowers to seniors in the Elk Valley through their ‘Adopt a Senior’ program while the pandemic keeps people apart.
“Seniors currently are suffering because of isolation, pandemic woes and everything else,” said Buds and Blooms owner, Sherry Benko.
Enter: The ‘Adopt a Senior’ program run by Benko, where seniors in the valley are gifted flowers and treats with each special occasion that rolls around on the calendar.
For Valentine’s Day, 114 seniors in Sparwood and Fernie received a bouquet of flowers, a box of treats and a card letting them know a member of the community had ‘adopted’ them and wanted to show them they were not forgotten.
Benko said it was vital for seniors to have some brightness in their lives.
“Right now they’re really suffering, and the independent-living seniors are the ones that are suffering the most because if you live in a complex you still have some interaction.”
For $28, locals can ‘Adopt a Senior’ through Buds and Blooms, ensuring that the next special occasion (Easter) is commemorated with flowers and some goodies. You can specify a senior you’d like to adopt, or you can donate to the program anonymously to support friends you just haven’t met yet.
Benko said the program would continue “as long as the isolation continues”, with Easter next, followed by Mother’s Day. The $28 covers the flowers and goodies, taxes and delivery. The cut-off to make the Easter donation is March 26, with the flowers to be delivered on April 4. Benko said she hoped to reach 200 seniors for the Easter delivery in the Elk Valley and the Pass.
To ‘Adopt a Senior’, call Buds and Blooms at 250-425-0222 to make a donation, or you can visit the store in Sparwood.
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Flowers given to seniors that were 'adopted' through the Buds and Blooms program. (Image contributed by Lilac Terrace, Sparwood)
Flowers given to seniors that were 'adopted' through the Buds and Blooms program. (Image contributed by Lilac Terrace, Sparwood)
