On Saturday, May 31, Calusa Garden Club of Marco Island members gathered to deliver floral designs in support of Little Pink Houses of Hope in its project of welcoming women with breast cancer and their families to Marco Island for a free, week-long retreat and vacation. Little Pink Houses of Hope welcomed the families on Sunday, June 1, and Calusa Garden Club members donated over 20 floral designs and also made monetary donations to support the week’s activities.
The Marco Island retreat for Little Pink Houses of Hope is chaired by retreat coordinator Brad Shaw, and the retreat itself is directed by Jeanine Patten-Coble. The national organization empowers breast cancer patients to live each day to the fullest by offering patients and their families free, week-long vacation retreats. For the Marco Island event, Calusa Garden Club member Marianne Foley chairs the efforts of the garden club members who purchase, design, and donate the floral designs for each home or condominium of the participating breast cancer patients and their families. In addition, Calusa Garden Club members who cannot participate in the floral design activity instead donate gift cards and money to support the costs of the retreat.
Calusa Garden Club members gathered the floral arrangements for transport on Saturday, May 31, in preparation for the June 1 arrival of the retreat participants. Other Calusa Garden Club members who donated to the event are Barbara Perez, Brenda McQuade, Monna Hormel, Liz Haines Papagiannis, and Claudia Bruni.
After delivering the arrangements to Brad Shaw’s home for additional distribution, Sara Wolf, Kathy McNabb, and Marianne Foley placed cards made by club member Claudia Bruni in the arrangements to welcome the retreat families.