Asheville – The local chapter of Random Acts of Flowers (RAF) recently inspired a small group of FCCLA students from T.C. Roberson High School by teaching them floral arranging and helping them inspire others who are recuperating from illness or surgery.
The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a student organization at T.C. Roberson High School in Buncombe County that helps students develop leadership, personal, and career skills. The RAF organization partners with different organizations to repurpose donated flowers from retailers and event centers into arrangements for people in medical facilities. RAF volunteers attended a Roberson meeting and taught students how to arrange flowers using what they had on hand. The students had previously held a “vase drive” and collected over 100 flower vases for RAF, which they were able to use for their project.
How RAF started
In July 2007, Random Acts of Flowers’ founder, Larsen Jay, was in a near-fatal accident. He credits the outpouring of support he received in the form of daily visitors and dozens of floral arrangements while in the hospital as key to providing the emotional lift and encouragement that helped him persevere through multiple surgeries and a challenging recovery process. When Larsen was able to leave his room, he noticed how many of his fellow patients did not have visitors or flowers—the very things that helped him so much in those early and difficult days. The first “Random Act of Flowers” delivery was made moments later as Larsen repurposed his flowers and delivered them from his wheelchair. The memories of how a simple gesture touched his fellow patients compelled Larsen to form Random Acts of Flowers in 2008.
Recycling flowers is the method behind Random Acts of Flowers’ mission. We strive to recycle 100% of the arrangements we receive, from ribbons, wire, and foam to vases and flowers. Clippings and other green waste are composted and used by landscapers, gardeners, and other partners in the community. Our organization is dedicated to keeping floral materials out of landfills. Receiving flowers improves the emotional health and well-being of individuals in healthcare facilities by delivering encouragement and personal moments of kindness.
We all benefit when we’re kind and compassionate. The community becomes stronger, and people thrive. That’s why we deliver thousands of beautiful bouquets of recycled flowers to those struggling with injury, illness, and the aging process every week in neighborhoods all over the country. Our vision as a flower charity is to inspire and nurture a culture of care and compassion. We do that through our core values of Compassion, Accountability, Fun, and Excellence.
The local chapter is always accepting new volunteers for their charity. Contact info@RAFAsheville.org to find out how to join in the fun.
Editor’s Note: Scott Abernethy is one of the generous volunteers with RAF Asheville.