Making time to stop and smell the roses will have a a two-way benefit for Valley residents through Christmas Eve.
Visitors who stop by Arizona Flower Market, 16th Street south of Buckeye Road, by 6 p.m. Dec. 24, or while supplies last, can partake in a gift exchange inside the 35,000-square-foot floral warehouse. Whether making a special trip to the site or swinging by there on the way to pick up holiday company at the airport, visitors can donate a new, unwrapped toy or five cans of food and receive one dozen white sweetheart roses from Africa in return.
“Over 500,000 people in Kenya depend on the floriculture industry for their livelihood and we are proud to help sustain their efforts through our rose purchase,” Brad Denham, owner of Arizona Flower Market said in a press release.
The roses came through FleurAfrica, which provides opportunities for professional growth and development and resources for their associates such as an on-site clinic, schooling and daycare facilities and a central dining area.
Arizona Flower Market, a family-owned company, also wanted to partner with a local organization focused on helping others. That’s why its staff will ensure donated toys and food get to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. It’s not the first partnership between the two Arizona agencies.
“Arizona Flower Market is a long-time supporter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Most recently, they donated over 3,000 sunflowers for our dining hall families at Thanksgiving,” Danielle Ricketts, dining rooms assistant manager said, “Their generosity is much appreciated and we value our relationship with them.”
St. Vincent de Paul has a long history of helping the poor in Phoenix. Its network of staff and volunteers are dedicated to feeding, clothing, housing and healing individuals and families in the community who have nowhere else to turn for help.
