Thursday, March 21, 2013

Aleethia Foundation Wounded Warrior Friday Dinner



Friday, March 15, 2013,  I found 8 volunteers at Michele's house working hard to put together about 15 arrangements for the "St. Patty's Day" Aleethia Foundation weekly dinner.  We had a couple of holiday decorations to include in the arrangements and lots of flowers.  The bouquets came together fairly fast and all was finished by noon. 

After the clean up and all the flowers were safely stowed in the cooler, Michele and I headed out for lunch and to find more holiday items to place in the arrangement so  that all represented "St. Patty's Day".  We ended up at Micheal's and found that the Irish decorations were pretty picked over, but managed to get just enough.  We also were able to pick up a couple of "Spring" items for next week.

We were off to the dinner by 3:30 and arrived at the Knights of Columbus building in Bethesda by 4:30. Once again all the tables looked very nice when we arrived, but once we placed our special arrangements on the tables the room glowed.  It was very festive and Marilyn made a couple of basket arrangements for door prizes.  We had one very special arrangement (a red leather purse we filled with flowers) for one of the wives, who's birthday was that night and it was presented to her along with a birthday cake.  She was delighted.

The company was "the best", the food was great and the night ended for us about 8:00. 

Michele and I had a great time and we want everyone to know that Freedom Petals has had a special invitation to provide flower arrangements in October for the Aleethia Foundation's 10th Anniversary.  There will be about 40 tables and we are looking forward to making the room and that evening "GLOW" too.  We will keep you all posted as the time gets near.

 

Barbara A. Kutner  [email protected]





Example of the beautiful baskets                       Barbara at the Garden Club March 9th Tea Event!
Marilyn creates for the warriors!                           Freedom Petals raised $300 

Saturday, March 2, 2013

March Events 2013

Flower Events

Friday, March 15th - Aleethia Dinner Delivery
9am -1pm
St. Patrick's Day Theme

Saturday, March 23rd - WRNMMC Delivery
9 am to Noon
Spring Theme

Freedom Petals Donations

Every year Freedom Petals puts our financial donations to good use.  We raise money through the generosity of our wonderful supporters and volunteers.  We also have a great time doing speaking engagements for Lions clubs, Garden clubs, and Women's groups in Virginia and Maryland.  We only ask for a $50 donation for our speaking time.   It is our intention to use all the moneys' every year before we file our non-profit taxes.  Most of the money supplements our donated fresh flowers for events, flower materials; such as corsage wrist bands and corsage ribbons,  silk flowers and theme items for each event.  The big items we have purchased: year one was a three door florist cooler that has saved our flowers and keeps them at a lovely 34 degrees.  They look so fresh for our deliveries.  The second year we purchased a working sink for the basement (our florist shop), no more lugging heavy water buckets up and down the stairs.
This year we saved our donations to purchased a canvas top for the truck so we can use it for deliveries and also flower pick ups.   The top keeps the wind from blowing the flowers away.  This is a temporary top that can be snapped on and off.  Soooo cool.  Its maiden voyage was our February 2013 delivery to WRNMMC.
We moved over 60 arrangements with no damages, to Fisher House and the hospital.
I thought it was important for everyone to know where the thoughtful donations we so appreciate are used.  As always we also appreciate the wonderful hard working FP volunteers and all the vases, ribbons, silk flowers and flower material that we receive.  Thanks to my flower partners Anne Harvey of the Herndon Florist and Trader Joe's Reston.