Guest Post – Written by Brittany Norment from H.O.M.E

It would be an understatement to say that 2020 has been a stressful year. This is perhaps most true of the senior residents of Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.), the only nonprofit in Chicago that provides affordable intergenerational housing and support services for seniors with low-incomes. In an effort to alleviate this common stress and bring a smile to our friends at H.O.M.E., we started preparing 78 bouquets for a flower donation.

In H.O.M.E. buildings seniors live in a family-like setting alongside younger adults and families with children. So, on one gloomy Tuesday in October, a small team of volunteers set out on a mission to deliver beautiful bouquets of flowers, generously donated by Ashland Addison Florist Company, to the door of every resident. 

It’s incredible how a small gesture like an unexpected bouquet of flowers can brighten someone’s whole day. We cannot express how much H.O.M.E. appreciates community-minded businesses that think creatively about how to give back, like Ashland Addison Florist. With every bouquet delivered, kind words and smiles were exchanged. This provided an uncommon gift of connection & joy in this unfamiliar, “socially distanced” world we all currently live in.

On behalf of the entire H.O.M.E. Community, we are so grateful to Ashland Addison Florist for their generous and thoughtful donation, and our flower delivery volunteers for their help! Together, HOME is what we make of it.

Learn more about H.O.M.E., their mission, and how to get involved on their website!