How 100 Beautiful Plants Benefit a Charity

Can one beautiful plant benefit a rehabilitation department of a county hospital? Maybe not one plant ~ but 100 beautiful plants sure can.  And not just a plant, but beautiful floral arrangements in unique pots and containers that have been lovingly put together by volunteers dedicated to a cause.

So here is the story of beautiful plants. One I am so proud to share with you.

For the past 13 years I have been a member of a women’s organization devoted to volunteering in the community (AKA Dallas) and raising money for Parkland Rehabilitation. Parkland Hospital is our county hospital and is considered one of the best trauma and burn hospitals in the county. If you have a catastrophic injury, Parkland is where you want to go.

 Every year, JCL hosts a charity luncheon that raises funds earmarked for Parkland Rehabilitation Foundation. Need a wheelchair or a prothesis when you leave the hospital? Need special shoes to help you walk again? The Foundation provides the funds that buy the equipment that patients need to rebuild their lives. Over each of the past several years, JCL has raised on average of over $100,00.

Beautiful Plants that Benefit a Charity

The Event

For over 50 years, The Junior Charity League of Dallas has contributed thousands of volunteer hours at various charities, such as Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, the North Texas Food Bank, the Stewpot (provides free meals for the homeless), and Ronald McDonald House. Our membership is about 80 women. Everyone single member contributes to the event that we just call Benefit. Over 400 women attend Benefit at one of our area country clubs. The club is decorated in the “theme of the year” and the ballroom, foyer, and side rooms always look beautiful. Our guests look forward every year to this fun event and everyone dresses up in their luncheon best.

This year’s theme was “Making Waves” and the color scheme was aqua and white.

The beautiful centerpieces are always for sale. This year’s was a lovely white orchid. Of course, I had to have one.

Raising the Money

This is the fun part.

The Bake Sale

We have a Bake Sale (items made by members) and the items are decorated in clear plastic and aqua netting. Each member brings her baked good on a cute plate or platter. We had about 80 items for sale.

Games and Auction

Silent auction (items solicited by members from local businesses), Party Spots, and Big Board (items such as art and travel).

We really do have some cute doctors dressed in scrubs selling game tickets. They ~ the doctors ~ are always a big hit.

Everyone loves to try their luck at the raffle.

Party Spots

Everyone loves Bingo!

The Plant Sale

My favorite every year is the Plant Sale. As I mentioned earlier, committee chairmen buy pots, containers, plants, flowers, and supplies at various venues ~ hopefully, on sale or at wholesale. Then the week of Benefit, the committee creates the most beautiful arrangements you have ever seen. Every year I buy at least 2 plant arrangements. The flowers or plants may eventually die, but it’s the containers that attract my attention.

I wanted to share with you some of these beautiful arrangements, just because they are so pretty. I hope looking at them will brighten your day.

The Plants are arranged on tables and risers.

Containers can be wooden crates, wire or woven baskets, metal, ceramic or things that you would not think as a plant container.

Love this confit pot.

I thought this wire basket with the little birds was really cute.

And this wire basket with kalanchoe pots is great, too.

What a cool copper pot.

The hydrangeas in this wooden container are exquisite.

Metal was popular this year.

Using moss to cover the container was brilliant. Has a wild, forest vibe.

What a cool wooden container. Very old-fashioned.

I like this white box ~ very farmhouse~looking.

I liked this pretty blue container filled with the white flowers and ivy.

How about this little wire and metal “stroller” as a planter?

How creative is this bird carriage as a flower container.

My Favorites

I couldn’t resist this wooden “lantern” with the little drawers and the plants inside. The top opens, too.

I think it looks great on the sofa table in our living room. I removed the garden gloves and they fit!

Can you see the little wooden bench inside?

Then I fell in love with this darling cake stand and African violet “cup cakes”.

The little bird on top is my favorite.

It’s now sitting on my breakfast room table.

I hope you enjoyed the 100 beautiful plants tour. We don’t know yet how much money our Benefit made, but keep your fingers crossed that it is another $100,000 year. Many people need the equipment to help make their lives as normal as possible.

A plant can make a difference. So can a cupcake. And a raffle and bingo.

Be a volunteer and make a difference.