Oklahoma City residents are set to celebrate Mother’s Day with the purchase of vibrant flower arrangements, all the while extending a helping hand to those transitioning out of homelessness, courtesy of Curbside Flowers.
Operating under the umbrella of Curbside Enterprises, a collective of supportive employment initiatives facilitated by the Homeless Alliance, Curbside Flowers provides a platform for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness to showcase their skills and secure opportunities.
The expansion of Curbside Enterprises from its initial publication, the Curbside Chronicle magazine, to encompass ventures like locally crafted wrapping paper, the full-service flower emporium Curbside Flowers, and the screen-printing establishment Curbside Apparel, underscores its commitment to fostering avenues for economic empowerment.
This Mother’s Day, Curbside Flowers is spearheading the creation and sale of bouquets meticulously crafted by florists who are either homeless or facing the threat of homelessness.
Equipped with comprehensive training and compensated for their efforts, these florists and vendors hone their job skills, encompassing teamwork, effective communication, and meticulous adherence to instructions. Beyond financial remuneration, proceeds from sales are reinvested into the program, fortifying vital services such as case management to facilitate participants’ progress as they navigate the transition out of homelessness.
Ranya Forgotson, Chief Social Enterprise Officer at the Homeless Alliance and Co-Founder of Curbside Enterprises, highlighted the dual impact of the initiative, stating, “For customers, shopping with us is an easy way to support someone working to end their homelessness while getting a lovely product in exchange.” She emphasized, “Flowers are beautiful and so are the people we work with. Every bouquet is handmade by a vendor in our program whose life is impacted with every purchase.”
Curbside Chronicle offers an array of arrangement sizes and potted plants available for pre-order until May 8 via CurbsideFlowers.org. Pick-up is scheduled at the store, situated at 522 N. Classen Boulevard, ensuring timely delivery for the holiday festivities. All proceeds from purchases will bolster the organization’s overarching mission of empowering individuals transitioning out of homelessness in Oklahoma City.
“We want to help our community celebrate all of the motherly figures in their lives,” expressed Forgotson. “From moms, to stepmoms, to grandmoms, to mothers-at-heart, motherhood comes in all shapes and sizes. These flowers are both a symbol of love to someone who has supported you and can also demonstrate that you care about people in our community who are without a home.”
Generous sponsorship from entities such as Fowler Automotive and Citizens Bank of Edmond has been instrumental in making this campaign a reality, further amplifying its reach and impact.
