Flowers have a unique way of lifting people’s spirits.
SJC Brooklyn’s Recreation Club will bring that budding positivity to Tuohy Hall’s auditorium next week with a special event and presentation about the therapeutic benefits of working with flowers. The club is teaming with local nonprofit BloomAgainBklyn to bring awareness to St. Joseph’s robust recreational therapy program with a hands-on activity.
Karma Dolma with the Recreation Club explained that the Feb. 27 event — which coincides with International Therapeutic Recreation month — is particularly meaningful because of its partnership with BloomAgainBklyn, a nonprofit that re-purposes donated, unsold and once-used flowers for new arrangements.
“We will be giving back to the community by distributing these bouquets to different health facilities with the help of this wonderful nonprofit organization,” said Dolma, a junior therapeutic recreation major.
Dolma added that she and her peers in the club are excited for the event and hope it will make more people aware of the therapeutic recreation field.
An afternoon of floral therapy
At the start of the common hour event, a brief presentation will be given by Caroline Anderson, founder of BloomAgainBklyn, and Dr. Delia Loney, a BloomAgainBklyn volunteer. The presentation will detail how the organization created a community of shared and joyful experiences through the giving of repurposed flowers, and the benefits derived by volunteers, partners and recipients.
After the presentation, BloomAgainBklyn volunteers will lead a flower arranging workshop, showing St. Joseph’s students how to arrange their own bouquets. At the end of the event, participants will discuss their thoughts and feelings on the benefits of this activity.