You just never know when inspiration will come! The Flower Shuttle program for Raleigh, NC was inspired by an article in Oprah Magazine in February of 2006. The article told the story of a woman in New York City who was appalled at the number of flowers thrown away after events. She began a foundation to recycle flowers to those in need. This article became the catalyst for the birth of The Flower Shuttle.
Organizers sought help from Raleigh Moravian Church which agreed to support this program as a Community Outreach Project. Raleigh Moravian Church and its Women's Ministry gave $700 in seed money to start The Flower Shuttle in March of 2006. In February 2022, having outgrown the space at Raleigh Moravian, The Flower Shuttle moved operations just up the road to Ridge Road Baptist Church.
Thanks to 100+ Flower Shuttle volunteers, flowers that were being thrown away by florists/floral departments and after special events, funerals, and weddings are now recycled to people living with sickness, terminal illness, poverty and disability. For a current listing of where Flower Shuttle arrangements are being delivered, please see the "Recipients" list on this page.
The Flower Shuttle project has been a blessing to all involved, from those donating the flowers to those rearranging, and most importantly to our recipients. We have all realized the power that flowers can have when given as an expression of love and care.
For more information on helping us spread our vision, please visit our Volunteer page, or contact us at theflowershuttle@gmail.com.
We are currently delivering flower arrangements to the following locations subject to safety restrictions:
A Place at the Table
A to Z Thrift
Abbottswood - Raleigh
AIDs Alliance
Alliance Medical
Brighton Gardens
Brittany Place at Searstone
Capital Nursing
Capital Towers
Cary Health and Rehabilitation
Dress For Success
Esteamed Coffee - Cary
Feed the Pack - NCSU
Green Chair
Healing Transitions - Women's Campus
Heartfields at Cary
Helen Wright Center
Hillcrest Rehabilitation
Independence Village
InterAct
Jewish Family Services
Litchford Nursing and Rehabilitation
LiveWell (3 locations)
Meals On Wheels (4 locations)
New Bern House
North Hills Transitional
Phoenix Assisted Care
Raleigh Dream Center
Raleigh Rehabilitation
Raleigh Rescue Mission
Refugee Hope Partners/Cedar Point
Rex Rehabilitation Center (Raleigh/Apex)
Duke Hospital Raleigh
Salvation Army
SarahCare
Spring Arbor - Apex
Spring Arbor - Cary
Sunnybrook
Sunrise Assisted
Terra Bella
The Carying Place
The Women's Center
Total Life Center - Bond Park
Total Life Center - Raleigh
Tower Nursing and Rehab
Transitions Hospice
UNC Rex Cancer Center
UNC Rex Children's Treatment Center
UNC Rex Hospital Raleigh
Urban Ministries
Wake Medical Center - Cary
Wake Medical Center - New Bern
Wake Medical Center - North Raleigh
Wake Smiles
Whispering Pines
Wisdom Care
The Flower Shuttle Administrative Team works behind the scenes to keep The Flower Shuttle running smoothly. The team is made up of 13 members who each serve a 3-year term with Kathy Reece, our founder, as a permanent 14th member.
President - Eileen Taylor
Secretary - Elaine Wilson
Treasurer - Andy Dalgliesh
Founder/Advisor - Kathy Reece
Volunteer Coordinator - Rhonda Hinnant
Shed/Vase Coordinator - OPEN
Special Events/Recipients -
Vickie Presnell,
vpresnell@mindspring.com
Flower Pick Up/Donors -
Siobhan Millen
Floor Manager Coordinator - OPEN
Load Out/Delivery - Carol Tillman
Public Relations/Website -
Rena Hatcher
Satellite Team Liaison - Katherine McVey
Lunch & Learn - Ann Barnes
Ad-hoc Committees:
Shuttle Shop - Siobhan Millen