LEC hopes more homes can take part in cheery event
Wednesday August 8, 2007 -- Natalie Miller
A recent surprise for residents at Willows Estate in Aurora was a blooming success.

To residents’ delight, each of the 88 seniors received a special delivery courtesy of a local flower store. Volunteers from Teleflora florists and Willows Estate staff brought cheer to residents in the form of a floral bouquet in a smiley-face mug July 27.

“The residents were thrilled,” says Teddy Mazucca, life enrichment co-ordinator at Willows Estate.

“The whole mood of the place (was lifted).”

Willows was chosen to participate in the annual ‘Make Someone Smile Week,’ July 22 to 28 in Canada. Mazucca was approached by Teleflora Canada, which in conjunction with Teleflora florists annually co-ordinates the nationwide charity event. Volunteers create and deliver the bouquets. 

Mazucca says residents knew they were in for a surprise but she didn’t provide any details. She says they were touched by the gesture and special attention. One resident remarked “for me, you shouldn’t have,” Mazucca recalls.

The arrangements, placed in a yellow happy face mug, contained an assortment of flowers including roses and baby’s breath.

The idea behind the week is to bring cheer to “those most in need of a smile — such as hospital patients, nursing home residents and children living in foster-care facilities,” Teleflora says.

Willows was one of two recipients in the Aurora area chosen to receive the floral arrangements.

Teleflora donated more than 47,000 ‘Be Happy’ mugs to its member florists, who work with local wholesalers and growers for flower donations.  With these donations, thousands of local Teleflora member florists will create cheerful floral arrangements in the ‘Be Happy’ mugs and deliver them to hospitals, charities and organizations across North America.

Mazucca hopes other OMNI homes can be part of the program next year.

“It’s open to anybody,” she says. “Right now, it’s still catching on.”