What started as a small, time-intensive operation trading off who “had to stay up” until 11 p.m. on a weekend night (did we mention we are medical students?!) has grown beautifully into a nonprofit organization staffed by the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix students.
It truly takes a village to pick up flowers in the middle of the night all over the 5th largest city in the United States, plan and distribute floral arrangement supplies, create, transport, and deliver bouquets to donation sites throughout town, coordinate with donors and community partners, and look toward growth as a nonprofit. Through a partnership with the University of Arizona Community Health Initiative - Phoenix (CHIP) program (https://phoenixmed.arizona.edu/chip), we have an incredible force of creative, hardworking medical students who volunteer to pick up flowers from events. Our team comprises 30+ volunteers (all medical students as well!), 1 new CHIP program leader, and 1 marketing and PR intern. We owe all of our success in this organization to this amazing group. With the added hands that beautifully craft bouquets each week for delivery to our community partners, we have been able to donate to added locations around the valley and can respond to more and more events that want to see their florals repurposed instead of going to waste.
Our volunteers all approach their work with creativity and individuality. Some brave the whole thing on their own and find relaxation in their work, providing a sense of peace in the midst of the chaos of medical school. Other volunteers get a group of friends together and pick up and arrange the flowers together, making this volunteering opportunity a time for connection and catching up with friends. No matter how the volunteers approach it, one common thread is the joy they feel delivering these bouquets.
After a long and hot summer here in Phoenix, we are excited to announce that the fall wedding season is upon us! Our first wedding will be in the next couple of weeks, and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our community partners through the gift of flowers. As always, if you want to follow along with the adventures of Rebloom, you can follow us on Instagram @rebloomnonprofit or find us online at www.rebloomnonprofit.com.
