Monday, November 2, 2015

Aleethia Dinner 23 October Flower Event a Huge Success


Thanks to all the Friday Flower Team for creating such beautiful fall blooms for the Aleethia Dinner sponsored by the Washington/Arlington Golf Club for our wounded warriors and their families.

The note and picture below tell it all.......


Hi Michele,
Thanks again for filling the WGCC dining room with beautiful flowers for Aleethia's "Friday Night Dinner" on October 23, 2015.  The Autumn/Halloween theme made for a festive evening.  Also, thanks to you and Barb for your assistance with the door prize giveaway.   I always enjoy the end of the evening when the florals are distributed and you see a room glowing with smiles and excitement.   No matter what your are feeling at the time .... flowers bring a moment of comfort, happiness and more.  "Freedom Petals' is part of the healing/recovery process!
Enjoy your weekend!
Hugs to all!
Margaret
Aleethia Foundation

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

21/22 August Freedom Petals Flower Event

The August Freedom Petals event was a huge success....  On Friday, 21 August the volunteers got ready for a first time ever Barbecue.  All the bouquets were in mason jars.  We created 10 mason jars, several baskets and a birthday arrangement.  We had so many beautiful flowers donated from Anne Harvey, Herndon Florist and a few days of collecting from Trader Joe's Reston.  Thanks to our supporting partners we had a successful Aleethia Friday night dinner at the Fairfax/Arlington Elks Club.
Friday Night Dinner
What a beautiful night and here we are at a BBQ . 
 
We were so blessed to find ourselves at the Arlington-Fairfax Elks Lodge #2188 for a BBQ and the weather cooperated so well.  It was not humid and it was cool, WOW!.  Someone was watching out for us.
 
They were set up for inside and outside eating, had checkered tablecloths on all the tables and a great amount of food (covered dishes) on the tables.  The food was so good.
 
When we got there, they were just setting up and we pitched in to help them.  When we were finished with the tablecloths there was definitely something missing and that was satisfied with the addition of our flowers. 
 
The flowers were fresh flowers that had a farm look, in mason jars with bows and lots of colors.  Our volunteers outdid them selves in making our addition to the BBQ perfect.  Thank you all for your help.
 
Finally, every Wounded Warrior left with flowers, a full stomach and happy memories.  

Barbara A. Kutner
[email protected]






The Saturday volunteers created all the flowers for the Walter Reed visit and the Fisher House delivery.  Monday the hospital was so appreciative and once again we saw lots of smiles from the Fisher House staff.  Our flowers bring lots of hope and healing to our wounded warriors and their families.
Thanks again for your time, prayers, and gifts.
God Bless,  Michele

Friday, August 14, 2015

AUGUST 2015 FLOWER EVENT PLANS

Hi everyone,

The August flower event is next weekend.  21/22 August.  Please reply to this email if you can come out to create flower arrangements for our wounded warriors.  We are supporting the Friday Night Dinner (Aleethia Foundation) a barbecue at the Elks Lodge.
We will also be visiting Walter Reed National Medical Center - Fisher House and the hospital as well. 

Friday, 21 August - 9 to noon
Saturday, 22 August - 9 till we are done.

I wanted to  share one more story.  Freedom Petals created a few arrangements for a retirement ceremony as Walter Reed facility.  The warrior is one that we met at the Friday night dinners.  It is so exciting to see some of the service members that we have met through the years finally doing well enough to retire and move back home.

Please find attached below the collage from the July Aleethia Dinner at the Press Club.  The flowers were so beautiful and every family took home an arrangement.
Thanks for your volunteer time and all the vases that show up on my stoop.

​God Bless,​ 
July 2015 Aleethia Dinner
National Press Club 


Attachments area
Preview attachment Freedom Petals 7-31-15 AF NPC_Page000.jpg

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

July 31st Flower Event - Supporting the Alleethia Foundation WW Friday Night Dinner in 2015

Hooray!  We made it.  We had just enough flower arrangements.

 But let me start at the beginning.  The Aleethia Foundation Friday night dinner was held at the National Press Club on 14th Street in Washington.  It is an impressive building with lots and lots of memorabilia of current and past news makers.  What a great place to have a dinner for our wounded warriors.  
 
The guest speaker was a wounded warrior himself who is now working for the American Legion in Texas.  Not only did the American Legion sponsor the dinner, but they also provided 4 iPads as door prizes and information on how the current wounded warriors can get different types of assistance through the legions in their area.  The dinner was very good and the company even better.
 
I can say that our flowers did wonders to the tables and the room itself was much warmer and a beautiful place.  
 
And, here is the best part.  Just before our wonderful volunteers were finish making their last arrangement on Friday, Michele asked each of us to make just one more.  It was a good thing she did, as we were able to give each lady at the dinner an arrangement to take home.  I am saying that we gave every one of the arrangements away with NOTHING left over.  Every women in the room was able to take home flowers (to their excitement).  Now you understand why we say HOORAY!  Every women walked out of the dinner happily carrying flowers.  Phew!!!

Barbara A. Kutner
[email protected]




Friday, April 24, 2015

Mother's Day Weekend Freedom Petals Event - May 2015

Happy Spring!
Our next flower event will be Mother's Day weekend.  Looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday, 8 May to support the Aleethia Dinner and on Saturday, 9 May to create arrangements for the Walter Reed Mother's Day Brunch.  We will also be making fresh flower corsages for Fisher House and the Aleethia Dinner.  Our florist friend Lori G. in Matoon, Illinois made and mailed Freedom Petals more than 100 beautiful silk corsages for the brunch.  Thanks so much once again for your support.

Friday, May 8th - 9am till noon
Saturday, May 9th - 9am till done​  

Thanks again for all the vases, silk flowers and materials that have been donated in 2015.  Thanks to the Silver Spring Lion's club and the various VA Garden Clubs that have financially supported us through the last six years.  And for all our Freedom Petals friends and family who have sent me cards, checks and volunteered your time to this great non-profit organization.  I know the wounded warriors and their families have been comforted and touched by our flowers.  As long as there is a need we will continue our mission.
​Thanks and God Bless,​
Michele Bevington

 Looking forward to warm weather so we can work in the garage once again!

Friday, April 3, 2015

MARCH 2015 FLOWER EVENT

The March Flower event was a huge success.  We had our regular hard working Friday volunteers.  The colorful flowers from Trader Joe's finally brought spring time into our hearts.  Everyone was eager to contribute to our great mission of bringing smiles to our injured hero's.   We finished up all the Aleethia Dinner table arrangements and several baskets of flowers for gifts.  We also completed the Walter Reed hospital arrangements as well.




The flowers brighten up the tables!


 The Aleethia Dinner had a huge turn out.  Warriors and their families enjoyed a steak dinner.  Every family received a flower arrangement to take home.  Orchids plants from Trader Joe's brought joy to many as well.  We have had such a cold winter and spring the flowers certainly warmed the room.


Saturday was a very busy day, there were fewer volunteers so the workload was heavier.  We concentrated on large vase arrangements for Fisher House at Walter Reed.  The large baskets for the Hospital entrance and Fisher house desks were the icing on the cake, with bright pinks and spring time yellows.  Thank you to all the volunteers for making our March weekend Freedom Petal event a huge success.  

  
THE MONDAY DELIVERY  
by Joan Holecko

Spring is here and so were the vases filled with beautiful flowers! We are getting so good at what we do. Who would know they were not created by professional florists. I am sure the residents of Fisher House and the Wounded Warriors can not tell.
Entry to The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is becoming more challenging. It didn't help that Michele and I were trying to enter simultaneously when there was an attempted forced entry at the NSA headquarters!
Thank you to all of the volunteers that make this all possible.

Happy Easter, Happy Spring! 🌷 🌻



Monday, March 2, 2015

MARCH 2015 EVENT

Hi Freedom Petals Family,

I know everyone is praying for a sign of Spring.  I cancelled the February deliveries due to the unpredictable inclement weather and some family health issues we were dealing with.  Now we are looking forward to our beautiful springtime arrangements for our March Event.  Thank you to all who have dropped lots of vases to my  house in the last few months.  If you can donate any springtime items to adorn our arrangements; butterfly's, dragonflies or lady bugs.....You get the idea!
  
Event date - Friday 27 March - supporting Aleethia Friday Dinner - 9 am to noon
Saturday 28 March - Flowers for Walter Reed and Fisher House Delivery - 9 am till done 

Please reply with the date you can volunteer to create flowers for our March event. 
God Bless, Michele (703 623-1508)
 ​                
 Aleethia Foundation brings free family meals to the recuperating wounded warriors in the DC area every Friday night.  All donated by different sponsors and venues. ​



Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Happy New Year! 2015 January Event Scheduled

Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a blessed holiday and fun bringing in the New Year 2015.  Freedom Petals in looking forward to another year bringing smiles to our wounded warriors with flowers.

We are confirmed for our Walter Reed Delivery and support to the Aleethia Friday Night Dinner.  
Our flower event will be 23/24 January.  
Friday - 23 January - 9 - till noon  (Aleethia Dinner arrangements)
Saturday 24 January - 9 till we are done.  Bouquets for Walter Reed and Fisher House.

Thanks again for all your help this past year.  In partnership with Aleethia Foundation and The Herndon Florist (Anne Harvey), Freedom Petals donated flowers for another Wounded Warrior wedding on January 12th.  The Aleethis foundation provided the venue restaurant in Rockville, Md.  The Herndon Florist created the beautiful orange/salmon bridal bouquet, and assorted flowers for the wedding.  Congrats to Michael and Angela!

Take Care,
God Bless,