Thank You, Sponsors!

Thank you to the Community Foundation of Elkhart County for sponsoring a week of bouquets in June. We are grateful for your partnership and support. Interested in sponsoring? Visit our website to learn more.

News from Joy Blooms

We celebrated our second birthday at our Annual Meeting on June 9. Guests learned about our impact and what’s ahead for Joy Blooms.

Since launching in June 2024, we have delivered more than 23,000 bouquets to our community.

Thank you to our panel participants: Patty Akers, Jodi Meyer, Emily Wold, and Zachary Bracker, and to all our partners, board members, and volunteers.

Wedding & Event Donations

We are grateful to Iris Davis for donating her wedding flowers, Karen Gardner for a donation in memory of her husband, Stewart Gardner, and Marcia Eppers for donating baby shower florals. These gifts help us bring joy to residents in numerous nursing and retirement communities in our community!

Growing in South Bend

Exciting events continue at our South Bend workspace!

Summer weddings are underway, with more scheduled throughout the season. We need more volunteers to help in this location! Register to volunteer on our website today!

Congratulations to May Volunteer of the Month, Terry Emerson!

Terry is a master at quick and beautiful floral design as well as being a talented artist. She always has a smile and is willing to do whatever the mission needs at the moment. Terry joyfully volunteers at both our Elkhart and South Bend locations. Thanks, Terry! We appreciate your love of our mission!

Vases Needed

Donated vases are essential to our mission.

• Smaller vases and bud vases are especially needed

• Starbucks-style drink bottles are also helpful

• Ask about hosting a vase collection drive.

Two New Vase Donation Sites: Dunlap United Methodist Church and Briar’s Edge Bookery in Granger. Thanks for supporting our mission!

Find the complete list of donation sites on our website under Donate/Vases.

We are seeking additional vase collection sites in the South Bend/Mishawaka area and surrounding Elkhart communities. Please contact us if you would like to host a vase drop-off site.

New Partnership

We’re excited to welcome Five Star Life as a new partner.

We are so happy to serve your organization and partner with you to serve others!

Love our mission? Want to help us move forward into the future? Do you have skills to share? Talk to us about Board Membership! We are actively recruiting additional Board members.

Volunteer Opportunities

Additional volunteers are needed in various areas.

Consider joining our mission—make new friends, find fulfillment, enjoy the beauty of flowers and experience a caring, joyful community.

Not a volunteer yet? Visit our website to get started. Volunteer at either our Elkhart or South Bend locations. Thanks for helping us share joy!

Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on our mission and opportunities for support!

July/August Volunteer Orientations

Fill out the Volunteer interest form on our website to complete our registration process and we will sign you up for the next orientation of your choice.

South Bend Orientation – 1st Wednesday of each month | Holy Cross Village workspace
Next orientation: August 5 at 6 p.m. (No July orientation)

Elkhart Orientation – 2nd Wednesday of each month | Harmony at Elkhart workspace
Next orientation: July 8 at 6 p.m.

🌷Fall Bulb Fundraiser

Refresh your garden while supporting Joy Blooms.

When you shop our Dutch Mill Bulbs fundraiser, 50% of every purchase helps us deliver more moments of joy through flowers.

Order by November 15

✔️Easy online ordering
✔️Ships directly to your home
📦Shipping runs through the end of November

Are You a Home Gardener?

Do you have flowers /greenery to share? We would love your help!

Homegrown flowers can make a big difference in the number of bouquets we are able to share. Consider donating blooms from your garden to help us continue serving nursing homes, retirement communities, and nonprofit partners.

Contact us through our website to schedule a donation.

Know of an upcoming wedding or fundraiser? Share our mission and encourage floral donations to Joy Blooms. Flower donations are essential to enable us to continue serving 79 delivery sites in Elkhart and St. Joe counties. Thank you for helping spread the word!

Upcoming Events

Weekly Bouquet Making
Harmony at Elkhart

• Wednesdays: 10 a.m. – noon

• Thursdays: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

South Bend Bouquet Creation: July 23 | 10 a.m. - noon
Holy Cross Village

Green Day Event at Elkhart County 4-H Fair:
July 24 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

We thank you for supporting our mission to spread JOY through the repurposing of donated flowers into colorful, encouraging bouquets.