Pg1 text:
For the second year in a row, Port Charlotte Florist gave back to the community by donating floral arrangements to local hospices, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The surprise floral deliveries were greatly appreciated by the facilities’ residents, the flowers brightening their days.
“The idea for the ‘Give Back’ event was that we wanted to share our love of flowers with those most in need of receiving them,” says owner Donna Cardenas. “Few gestures bring as much joy as a surprise delivery of flowers.”
Donna’s father Robert Gill founded what was then known as the Punta Gorda Flower Shop in 1979, eventually expanding the business into Port Charlotte Florist. Located on the Tamiami Trail, the business has a 7,000 square foot shop, where popular floral arrangement classes are held. Donna, along with her brother Dennis Gill, purchased the business from their parents in 2005 and they have run it together since then.
“We have always been a local business,” Donna explains. “The ‘Give Back’ event is one of the ways we let the community know how much we appreciate their support.”
941.627.2236. 900 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. Portcharlotteflorist.net.
Pg2 text:
Port Charlotte Florist provides the products for the ‘Give Back’ event, including fresh cut flowers, containers and greenery. Students from the shop’s design classes donate their time and talent to put the arrangements together. “The combination of Port Charlotte Florist and our amazing students enables us to provide over 100 arrangements to the recipients,” says owner Donna Cardenas. “Our students absolutely love participating in this event. Each person donates two hours of their time, designs two arrangements, and the following day we deliver all the arrangements to the selected recipients. I'm not sure who gets the most out of it, us, our design students, or the recipients. It is truly an awesome event for everyone involved. We cannot thank our students enough for their help in making this possible!”