Last year, in 2022, we did something amazing for Valentine's and Random Acts of Kindness Day!
North Wood Blooms delivered 1,274 long stemmed wooden roses to share some kindness with education and health care staff members form a variety of employers in Langlade and Forest Counties.
On January 18, 2022, I, Andi Gretzinger, went to facebook with an idea and a product listing. I spoke from my heart and asked viewers to join the mission to spread beauty, joy and kindness with people who need it the most right now. You.
If you are a health care or education staff member who received one of these stems, thank you.
Thank you for your sacrifices you have made in your personal life to give as much of yourself to your job as you do. You are truly an asset to our community and I want you to know that you are valued.
You are seen. You are important. All of the sponsors and I appreciate you getting up everyday to go do the work that you do to serve and take care of those most important to us.
It is not lost on us that your job has only gotten harder with the pandemic. I know that some of you have seriously considered leaving your profession. I know that your conditions are not ideal. I know that you may be fighting daily to find a work/life balance that makes you feel like more than just a servant to others. For being at work today to receive your stem and to come to this website and read this far. THANK YOU.
I want you to be able to come back to this link to read and re-read these words of encouragement when you need them most. Do not forget that your community is behind you.
All 1,274 of these wooden flower stems were sponsored from 8 different states across the nation. Most of the states included had more than one sponsor in more than one city.
It was an amazing outpouring of support for you and what you do everyday. Hundreds upon hundreds of different sponsors came through to sponsor one or two stems at a time - and some even sponsored 10, 20, 25 and 50 stems at a time. Numerous sponsors came back to make sure our goal was fulfilled and added more stems to the final count. You are SO valued. I was moved to tears many times knowing how big this became.
Please enjoy the following messages from the sponsors as they left them online with #nwbsponsorastem22 or have written them in their cart comments when checking out with their sponsorship: