Flower Shuttle brings new life to used arrangements

Every Tuesday morning, Raleigh Moravian Church becomes a recycling center for those blooms that have yet to lose their full appeal.

"Nothing of potential value in the operation is wasted," volunteer Mary Currin explained as she pointed to buckets of flower tubes, rubber bands and preservative packets. "So we recycle the flowers plus the things that come with the flowers."

Whether flowers come from florist shops or grocery stores, once they are past their expiration date, the blooms cannot be sold. Flower shuttle regulars are always ready to intervene and breathe new life into the bouquets.

Katherine McVey helps coordinate the volunteer effort at the church. She says many of them were once paid to do what they now perform for free.

"We have some outstanding ex-florists that arrange for us. Oh my gosh, it looks like they were made at a florist," McVey said.

Floral arrangements can be expensive, but, since 2006, Flower Shuttle organizers have been giving them away as gifts. "We deliver them to people who normally wouldn't get flowers in our community," McVey said.

McVey said the signs of wilting or browning on petals can often be peeled away. One package of peonies were headed for the dump even before they had burst into bloom. "But they will bloom for the clients that receive them," McVey said.

On Tuesday, about 70 volunteers worked to create 350 arrangements for recipients in the community. Those include people in hospice units, nursing homes or senior centers like Capital Towers on Six Forks Road in Raleigh.

Shuttle volunteer Judi McClure brought her granddaughter Lauren along for her delivery duty at the complex.

"We're from the Flower Shuttle -- and these are for you," announced McClure to the first resident they came into contact with.

In most cases, volunteers deliver arrangements to front offices who then provide the gifts to hospital patients or nursing center residents.

Lauren McClure enjoyed the opportunity to see the reaction from Capitol Tower residents. She delivered them to two residents playing cards in a sunroom.