Flowers for Food

You may have noticed a person selling flowers outside a movie theatre or somewhere else in your neighbourhood. I have bought a pink gerbera from the sweet lady who sells in front of the 5th Avenue Theatre a few times. She participates in the Street Outreach program of the Canadian Flowers for Food Society. Here’s how it works, local retailers, distributors and growers donate flowers that may not be so perfect and would probably wind up in the dumpster. The group has various sites around town where their clients can pick up the flowers and then sell them on the street. That money helps them buy food and other basics. The society has other programs, like the floral design course offered at a seniors centre. Flowers that are too far gone are composted, another project that helps put food in people’s mouths.