ALEXANDRIA, Va. — While Easter, Mother's Day and Christmas boost holiday florist sales, the floral industry reports its greatest demand for flower production and delivery is Feb. 14. The annual celebration of Valentine's Day is above all, the single busiest day for florists, as people use the occasion to express love by giving flowers.
Members of Downtown Baptist Church prepare roses to be delivered as a message of love from the church.
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Yet for those in low-income housing, fresh flowers are too costly and are a luxury for only a few on Valentine’s Day. Until this year when Downtown Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., partnered with B3 Solutions and the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority to deliver one red rose and chocolates to more than 800 public housing residents on Feb. 14.
“I hope that the flowers and candy touch the residents’ hearts and let them know that there are people who care about them,” says Brenda Bearden, president of B3 Solutions and a member of Downtown Baptist Church.
Volunteers from the church sorted and wrapped the roses and delivered them to ARHA homes. Bearden’s staff packaged the chocolates and the Housing Authority staff assisted by preparing a Valentine’s card for each recipient.
“Our church is 60 years old and is located in an historic building that is 170 years old,” says Dan Carlton, pastor of Downtown Baptist. “Over the years we have had many missions, but we want to become more involved in our community.” And Valentine’s Day was a great opportunity for the congregation to do this.
A new church plant in Virginia Beach, Va., also used the holiday associated with love to connect with its neighbors. Members of Awaken Church gave away several hundred Hershey candy bars on the weekend prior to Valentine’s Day at shopping centers in the area, says Pastor Mike Pumphrey. It was an opportunity to talk with people in a casual atmosphere, he says, as members offered the chocolate to passing shoppers along with a Valentine greeting.
A card was attached to each Hershey bar with information “Love, Marriage, Baby Carriage,” Awaken’s worship emphasis and its first marriage seminar March 10-11. Saturday’s session begins at 6 p.m. at the church and Sunday’s session begins at 1 p.m. following morning worship which will include a baby dedication.
According to its website, the weekend will be an opportunity for married couples and those considering marriage in the future to learn what God’s Word says about love and marriage. And the chocolate bars provided members the opportunity to share God’s love and the church’s mission, says Pumphrey.