Blooms Of Kindness Turns Leftover Flowers Into Joy

A surprise bouquet isn’t just pretty, it can change the temperature of a room. We sit down with Cathy MacDonald to hear how Blooms of Kindness takes donated flowers that might otherwise be tossed and turns them into moments of relief for people in hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers, and veteran centers across Buncombe County and Henderson County.Kathy walks us through the backstory, the “Bouquet Day” process, and the practical details that make this nonprofit work: partnering with local grocery stores, accepting wedding flowers, collecting vases and even using decorated tennis ball containers when facilities can’t accept glass. We also dig into why flowers matter, from research on mood and anxiety to the real-life testimonials that keep volunteers coming back week after week. The result is a community-powered model that delivered over 8,000 bouquets in a year, with zero paid staff.We also share a quick Henderson County real estate market snapshot, highlight a new listing open house in Flat Rock, and close with ways you can support the people doing the quiet work of caring. Check out bloomsofkindness.org, follow along on Facebook and Instagram, and look for “Paint Your Own Bouquet” on August 23 at Mills River Brewery. If you enjoy local stories that restore your faith in your neighbors, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.