Local business giving back to local long-term care residents, workers

PHOTO DISCLAIMER: Pre-COVID-19 photo

DAN CEARNS, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, for The Standard

SCUGOG: For Valentine’s Day, Branching Out Florist in Port Perry, is looking to give back to long-term care workers and residents. The local business is currently running an initiative, called Heart 2 Heart, where people can make a donation of at least $2, and have a carnation delivered to a long-term care resident or healthcare worker.

One of the new Branching Out owners, Sharon Runnalls, told The Standard where the idea for this initiative came from. “We had a really good client of ours. She contacted us, [saying] her and a group of friends wanted to make sure every resident and healthcare worker at Port Perry Place received a carnation and a homemade card for Valentine’s [Day]. She contacted us to see if we could help her with respect to getting enough carnations,” she explained. “So we said, obviously we could help her with that, and we got to talking and thought what a great initiative, what a great act of kindness [this is]. Maybe we could do something like this for all of the long-term care facilities in town.”

Ms. Runnalls and her business partner took over Branching Out in early October. She noted her business partner was an employee of the business at the time.

“The opportunity just came up. There was an opportunity to purchase, and her and I have been best friends for 40 years, so it was an opportunity for us to do something different,” Ms. Runnalls explained.

With this initiative, Branching Out is hoping to give back to all residents and workers in Port Perry Villa, Port Perry Place and West Shore Village.

“Our hope is to raise enough funds [so] that everybody gets something. We would take donations up until [February 13th], but ideally we would like to be able to cut it off on [February 12th],” Ms. Runnalls stated.

The new owner noted this initiative has already seen a “positive response” and said they would “love to do something like this again.”

To take part, call Branching Out, at 905-985-3033. Branching Out is located at 173 Queen Street in Port Perry.