CINCINNATI — One florist is making sure floral arrangements from large events like weddings or funerals aren’t going to waste while also bringing joy to front-line workers in hospitals and sick patients.
What You Need To Know
- Emily Ryan owns Petal and Stem, a floral business
- Ryan decided to donate her extra flowers to local hospitals
- She also does monthly classes with the Ronald McDonald House in Cincinnati to teach the kids how to make floral arrangements
- Ryan said after her own health journey she wanted to bring the joy that flowers brought her to others
There are a lot of flowers needed today. And Emily Ryan is making sure they’re all accounted for.
Ryan, the owner of Petal and Stem, a floral business, uses her extra blooms and time to bring some joy to the sickest of children. The idea came to her after she went through some of her own health issues.
Emily Ryan loads up flowers for her class at Ronald McDonald House (Spectrum News/Katie Kapusta)
“It became a very pivotal moment for our family,” Ryan said. “Someone who had always been healthy to now we’re hearing very scary words.”
She said during her time in hospitals, flowers cheered her up and she hopes to do the same.
“Just bring a little color,” she said. “Bring a little love and also show them that through plants and flowers, there’s a lot of coping. And that was a huge healing element for me.”
Now she spends time at Ronald McDonald House in Cincinnati teaching them how to make floral arrangements. As well as donating floral arrangements from weddings the next day to health care workers. Ryan said these classes at the Ronald McDonald House are just as much for the kids as it is for the caretakers.
Ryan helps a child make a flower arrangement (Spectrum News/Katie Kapusta)
“It’s people like my mom that make me want to do this because I want to love on not only these amazing kids that are not having a traditional childhood and these amazing caregivers,” Ryan said.
Her mission has grown with new volunteers at every event and flowers donated by Trader Joe’s.
“They completely said yes, which was incredible,” Ryan said. “And now here we are. They always pick really colorful, great things for the kids.”
All of the flowers for the event at the Ronald McDonald House are donated by Trader Joe’s (Spectrum News/Katie Kapusta)
But she said as long as she can get a smile out of one person, it’s worthwhile
Brides and grooms and organizers of events can decide if they want their flowers donated to a local hospital after the event, and Ryan will deliver them herself.
