Hearts in Bloom Buffalo
- Feature
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Showing Up With Flowers and Love
Some stories stay with you. They linger because they’re rooted in love, loss, and the quiet moments when someone simply shows up. Hearts in Bloom Buffalo is one of those stories.
Founded right here in Western New York by Catherine Szabad, Hearts in Bloom Buffalo is a nonprofit dedicated to delivering flowers, small gifts, comfort, and connection to those navigating grief — especially widows, widowers, and mothers who have lost a child. Through thoughtfully arranged floral deliveries on Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, this organization reminds people that they are seen, remembered, and supported by their community.
How Hearts in Bloom Began
After the loss of her son, Catherine came across a similar initiative in Charlotte, North Carolina. It struck a chord. She knew immediately that Buffalo, a city known for taking care of its own, needed something like this. From that moment, Hearts in Bloom Buffalo was born with a simple but powerful mission: to reach those who grieve quietly, especially during holidays that can feel especially heavy.
Showing Up at Just the Right Time
Ask anyone involved with Hearts in Bloom Buffalo, and they’ll tell you the real magic happens at the front door.
There was a delivery where volunteers arrived while the recipient was at work. Her son answered the door, and as the volunteers gently explained why they were there, they could hear someone crying through the Ring doorbell. It was the recipient, listening in real time, overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness.
Another time, a volunteer left a note after no one answered the door. Later that day, the phone rang. The volunteer returned with the flowers to find a widower who apologized for not answering. He had been sitting quietly, reading old Valentine’s Day cards from his late wife. They cried together. The timing felt meant to be.
And during the very first year, when volunteers were limited, the sister of a widow offered to pick up the flowers herself. When she stepped into the garage and saw the arrangement, she broke down. The flowers were the same kind her sister had carried on her wedding day.
Moments like these are why Hearts in Bloom Buffalo exists.
What Sets Hearts in Bloom Buffalo Apart
Hearts in Bloom Buffalo doesn’t try to fix grief, and that’s exactly the point.
“We don’t try to solve grief,” Catherine Szabad shares. “We just show up.”
Each delivery is deeply personal: hand-arranged flowers, handwritten notes, thoughtfully assembled gift bags, and cards made by local students, from third graders to high schoolers. Often, the volunteers making these deliveries are widows themselves. And always, the care comes from within the community.
It’s Buffalo taking care of Buffalo.
A Mother’s Love & Valentine’s Day Deliveries
Every February, Hearts in Bloom Buffalo delivers Valentine’s Day flowers to widows and widowers, a day that can feel painfully quiet after loss.
In May, the organization offers A Mother’s Love, a special initiative bringing comfort to mothers grieving the loss of a son or daughter. These deliveries honor the complicated emotions that Mother’s Day can bring and gently remind recipients that they are not alone.
The Heart Behind the Flowers
Ask the founder what her favorite part of Hearts in Bloom Buffalo is, and her answer is simple. There isn’t just one.
She loves the stories that come back to the organization after a delivery is made. She treasures the stories shared before a delivery ever happens, during the submission process, and the reasons people give for wanting their person to receive flowers.
She’s grateful for the new friends she’s made since the beginning, and for the complete strangers who reach out to donate simply because they believe in what Hearts in Bloom Buffalo is doing and want it to continue. She loves watching volunteers become friends with one another, and seeing younger people step in because they feel it’s important to help others.
And, of course, she loves the creativity and being surrounded by flowers.
Even the smallest details matter to her, like the handmade cards from local schools that are tucked into each delivery. There are always at least two. And yes, they often make people cry.
Rooted in Community
Hearts in Bloom Buffalo is made possible through the generosity of local businesses and partners who believe in giving back. Their support allows the organization to offer more than just flowers, adding thoughtful touches that bring extra comfort and care to each delivery.
It’s incredibly meaningful to see local businesses want to be part of delivering love and joining in this mission. To every partner who has stepped in to help make these days extra special, thank you.
As Hearts in Bloom Buffalo continues to grow, so does the need for helping hands. With more than 200 recipients this year, volunteers are essential to delivering smiles across Western New York, including Buffalo and Rochester. Please help spread the word and consider getting involved. Sometimes, simply showing up makes all the difference.
Watch Love Grow
Hearts in Bloom Buffalo is proof that love doesn’t end… it grows.
Through flowers, presence, and human connection, this nonprofit is quietly changing lives one doorstep at a time.
