Frequently Asked Questions
So what exactly is Grateful Vase?
Grateful Vase is a 501c3 non-profit organization that delivers repurposed floral arrangements to long-term care facilities in Northwest Arkansas & Springfield, Missouri.
Northwest Arkansas and Springfield MO are fairly far apart. How did this come about?
Although she graduated over 10 years ago, our founder, Lindsey Curry is a University of Arkansas Alumni that will always keep Fayetteville close to her heart. After graduation she moved up the road outside of Springfield, Missouri where she resides with her family on their farm. Lindsey visits Arkansas often as she still has close family and friends in NWA that actively serve alongside her on Team Grateful Vase. Their amazing support and Lindsey’s love for Northwest Arkansas allows the opportunity to serve both locations.
What is your mission & vision for GV?
At Grateful Vase, our vision is to create a wholesomely kind and connected community where those of all ages can have an opportunity to live & give with purpose. Our mission is to spread joy in long-term care facilities by delivering beautiful, repurposed flower arrangements to local residents. In doing so, we hope to encourage all community events to become more sustainable. We plan on positively impacting every single long-term care facility in Northwest Arkansas and 417 MO.
Why long-term care facilities?
Our founder, Lindsey Curry was inspired to start Grateful Vase after spending quite some time in long term care facilities visiting her own grandparents. Her grandparents, though no longer with us, still greatly influence her values and actions still to this day. No matter the size, a floral delivery to a long-term care facility can make a wonderful impact on residents and the overall environment of the facility. It can improve overall well-being, encourage social interaction, and most of all cause a spontaneous smile!
Where do you get the flowers from?
Flowers are donated from events, such as weddings, baby showers, corporate dinners, or other large celebrations. We also partner with local florists and flower farms to repurpose their nearly expired flowers.
Can I donate anything else from our event besides flowers?
Yes! You may also donate balloon arches & like-new, glass vases.
I’m hosting an event this year, how do I request a pickup?
Fill out our Floral Pick Up Request Form. We will email you to confirm availability.
How do I increase my chances of a floral pickup?
Submit your request form as soon as you know your event date, even if it is next year! We are a first-come, first-serve opportunity and receive a high volume of requests. Pickup requests must be submitted at least 21 days before your event date in order to be reviewed. A good rule of thumb: when you book your event florist, book us too.
Am I allowed to keep some of my event flowers or do I have to donate ALL of them?
You can keep as many flowers as your heart desires! We’ll only swoop in and collect the ones you don’t want.
How do long-term care facilities use my flower donation?
Lots of different ways! Our repurposed arrangements are delivered to bring smiles to the residents, either in their rooms or placed in the common areas. They are also used for floral related activities. The balloon arch donations are used to decorate for resident birthdays and other special celebrations!
What part is tax deductible & how does it work?
The fair market value of your donated flowers may be tax-deductible. As required by the IRS, the donor—not Grateful Vase—is responsible for determining the fair market value of the donated flowers.
Grateful Vase repurposes as many donated flowers as possible into fresh arrangements for seniors living in long-term care and memory care communities. Because flowers are perishable, factors outside of our control—including temperature, weather, and the condition of the flowers before we arrive—can affect their quality. We only repurpose flowers with sufficient remaining vase life, so it is normal that a portion of a donation may not be included in the final arrangements. This reflects our commitment to maintaining the quality of the arrangements we provide to those we serve.
If requested, we will email you a tax donation receipt on the day of your floral pickup. This receipt acknowledges your donation and may be used when preparing your income tax return. Please consult your tax advisor with any questions regarding your charitable deduction.
When do you come pick up my event flowers?
We do our best to pick up your donated event flowers immediately after your event is over. For extremely late events or due to availability, pickups may be first thing the next morning.
How do you choose which long-term care facility you deliver to?
We give back to the local community we receive the donation from. We choose a care facility in the same area we received them so we can give back to your community's loved ones. We strive to give joy, with a mission to deliver to as many different facilities as possible, brightening new faces with each delivery.
I noticed Grateful Vase has an “off-season”, why is this?
Mental Health is a core value of Grateful Vase. We find extreme importance in life-balance. With that comes, rest. We chose the month of January to be our annual off-season to give our hardworking team leaders and volunteers a time to be fully present with their own loved ones. Our mission to spread smiles and brighten days never stops. This time is simply us tapping pause to reflect & recharge. It allows our team to come back with fresh ideas and renewed energy so we can continue our next BIG chapter of giving with pep in our step! Though our response times might be a tad bit slower than usual in the off-season, we are always available via email.
How do I volunteer?
We love volunteers and love connecting with our local community supporters. If interested in getting involved, please submit a Volunteer Application. Upon approval, you will be added to our volunteer e-newsletter that will keep you updated regarding upcoming volunteer opportunities and events with access to sign up online.
I absolutely love your mission. How can I help support this awesome cause?
There are TONS of ways to support Grateful Vase’s mission:
-To spread the word, follow us here.
-To donate your event flowers or balloons, click here.
-To volunteer, click here.
-To contribute funds, click here.
-To purchase supplies off of our Spark Good Walmart Registry, click here.
-To round up your spare change, click here.
-If you are interested in teaming up for a partnership to better our senior community TOGETHER or being a sponsor at our next fundraiser, please contact us here.