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Vol. 38, No. 3
BY ANY OTHER NAME — Nancy Stoelting, the founder of Joy Blooms, shows off one of the organizations’ rose-stemmed card sticks. Joy Blooms strives to be efficient and environmentally friendly, recycling plant matter, cardboard, and cellophane used in their bouquets.
Elkhart nonprofit
A year into retirement, Nancy Stoelting found herself wondering what to do next. Inspired by a lifelong love of flowers and a desire to bring joy to others, she launched Joy Blooms, an Elkhart-based nonprofit that has since delivered more than 7,000 bouquets to residents across the city.
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Elko Edition REaching ElkhaRt, kosciusko, noblE and lagRangE countiEs
May 2025
Text and Photos By MAKSYM HART Staff Writer
MyParadigmHealth.com
www.seniorlifenewspapers.com
SORTED BY DESTINATION — Joy Blooms volunteer Patty Akers sorts vases for the organization’s bouquets. Each vase of flowers will be delivered to Elkhart residents, from residents in local assisted and senior living facilities, participants in programs of area nonprofits, or healthcare workers, teachers, and others who support the community.
PERFECTLY ARRANGED — Sandy Freet places a bouquet of flowers into the “finished” basket after it has been trimmed and prepared for its destination. Each set of flowers is donated from local partner organizations.
Joy Blooms spreads floral cheer
Operating out of the Hellenic Senior Living of Elkhart building, the organization collects donated flowers from wholesalers, retailers, weddings, funerals and other events. Volunteers then repurpose those flowers into smaller bouquets that are distributed to senior living residents, nonprofits and homebound individuals. “I wanted to do something that I really enjoyed and that would serve other people,” Stoelting said. “My
parents and my grandmother were big flower gardeners and that always inspired me.” After researching similar groups around the country, Stoelting connected with a Kansas City nonprofit called Unexpected Blooms, which mentored her through the process of starting Joy Blooms. The Elkhart chapter officially launched in June 2024. Each Thursday, local floral wholesalers, resalers and donors from events
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such as weddings provide fresh flowers to the organization. Stoelting said the weekly supply has been essential to the group’s ability to grow and maintain a steady delivery schedule. “We’re busy every week,” she said. “We get the flowers, our volunteers come in, and we make them into bouquets for delivery.” Currently, Joy Blooms serves 37 partner ner sites within Elkhart. These Continued on page 3
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