Doctor Saves Discarded Wedding Flowers In Order To Turn Them Into Bouquets For Lonely Patients

Oct 05, 2021 by apost team

Whenever we want to make someone feel better, it’s a good idea to send them a bouquet of flowers. They’re simple and effective and can brighten up anyone’s day. With so many different types of flowers and colors to choose from, the possibilities are endless, which is why it’s become so common to use flowers as a sweet pick-me-up and as a way to show someone that you care about them.

One of the most special moments about planning a wedding is picking out the flower arrangements. Although they look absolutely breathtaking during the ceremony and reception, these flowers are oftentimes discarded afterward and are never used again. A doctor in Richmond, Virginia, has decided to give those flowers a second chance at making someone’s day a little brighter.

Dr. Eleanor Love has had a passion for flowers since she was a little girl, as she grew up with a sunflower patch in the front yard of her family’s home in Arlington. Using her passion for flowers and her passion to help others, she decided to start a new project in 2019 that helped her save discarded wedding flowers and turn them into beautiful bouquets for her patients.

The idea first came to her mind when she was a medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and witnessed how difficult life for hospital patients could be. Nowadays, Love is known as being the founder and director of The Simple Sunflower, a project that helps take discarded wedding flowers and turn them into bouquets to give to lonely patients.

Giving Her Patients A Reason To Smile

The Simple Sunflower was founded in 2019 and is the first operation of its kind in Richmond, according to VCU Health. Love first came up with the idea after picking up a part-time job at a floral shop. As a graduating medical student, Love has continued to spread joy and happiness to the patients at the VCU Health Medical Center through her simple yet incredibly impactful project.

The team behind The Simple Sunflower is dedicated to bringing happiness and hope to those enduring or recovering from illness in Richmond, Virginia, according to the project’s official website. Partnering with the VCU Health Volunteer Services, the group explained that they hope to “brighten and comfort each patient’s stay while contributing to the sustainability of our community by repurposing florals.” 

By partnering with local venues that hold events with fresh flower arrangements, independent florists and nearby universities, The Simple Sunflower’s team of volunteers are able to gather donated flowers and put them into beautiful bouquets, according to the project’s website. They sort through all of the donated flowers and hand-select the ones that look the freshest and most vibrant in hopes that they will last for at least a few days. Afterward, they deliver them to individual patients receiving end-of-life care at the VCU Health Medical Center.

Speaking with VCU Health, Love explained that she’s received “wonderful feedback” from those who donate the flowers knowing that they’re being used for a greater cause. As of Sept. 19, 2021, The Simple Sunflower has delivered 993 bouquets to patients. Love and her team are working toward making The Simple Sunflower a non-profit organization to continue to help as many people as possible.

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What do you think about this doctor’s idea of turning used flowers into bouquets for her patients? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones, too.