The 29th Annual Fayette Cares Plant Sale bloomed with caring as hundreds of shoppers picked up their flowers, herbs and vegetables on a crisp spring morning. For safety, shoppers ordered plants online then picked up their purchases via drive thru with dedicated Fayette Cares volunteers preparing orders.
Because of the pandemic, the 2020 sale was challenging and 2021 wasn’t much easier. Recent snow and freezing weather set the growing season back, losing some plants and delaying others by weeks. Supply chain issues caused delays in dirt delivery, affecting the ability to transplant hundreds of thousands of plants on time. Add to that, freezing temperatures in the South impacted supplies, causing many to rapidly purchase any and all the plants they could – almost like the toilet paper shortage of 2020!
A lot goes on behind the scenes to help create beautiful gardens. Huge thanks go out to Lucerne Farms, Willow Oaks Flower Farm, Fayette County Master Gardeners, Fayette County Public Schools, NP3Farmhouse, The Dabney Nursery, Digger O’Dell Nursery & Landscape, The Fayette Falcon, Hattie Brawley and Loretta Martin of Chamberwood Realty Group, Kindred Spirit Style, Hometowne Flowers, G&G Repair, GiveCamp, Kroger, and amazing Fayette Cares volunteers. To see photos of just a few of these caring folks or learn about the event visit FayetteCares.org/plants.
Support and caring really matters, especially since the pandemic has impacted so many of our friends and neighbors. Compared to 2019 Fayette Cares responded to a 140% increase in food requests distributing 300,000+ lbs. of nutritious meals. The 29 bed shelter and hotel aid housed 66% more people, 72% more rent/utility assistance was provided, and tragically there was a 50% increase in requests for domestic violence intervention. Community contributions are a meaningful way to help families when they need it most.
