That's what Dennis Bader, owner of The Flower Mart, Glenwood Springs, Colo., discovered when he partnered up with a local Kiwanis Club about five years ago.

Bader says that, just like many florists, he fills a lot of requests for donations from local charities but often doesn't hear from them after he's made the donation. When looking for extra Valentine's Day drivers, he came up with a way give to charity in a way that benefits his business.

"We had an employee who's husband was an officer in the Kiwanis Club and we approached them about helping us out," Bader says. "We gave them all the information they needed and explained our expectations and they took it over from there."

Bader says the club supplies drivers using their own vehicles to help deliver The Flower Mart's Valentine's Day's orders. In turn, the club receives the delivery fees in the form of a check — and, since Bader's drivers and vehicles are not involved, it doesn't cost him a thing, so it's "totally worth it."

The Kiwanis Club and The Flower Mart have continued to work together on Valentine's Day, and the shop also started doing the same thing for Mother's Day with its local Rotary Club. Other local florists have followed lead as well, and have started working with other charities for deliveries, Bader says.

"It's great for us, it's great for the charity, and it raises awareness in the community," Bader says.

--Kori Kamradt
kkamradt@safnow.org