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The Little Sisters Need Your Plants

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We try to donate as much money and goods as we can to charities near to our hearts, and one such charity is the Little Sisters of the Poor in Richmond, Virginia.

The Little Sisters are a Catholic religious order who work with the elderly poor (not just Catholics; they help all, regardless of religious affiliation). The sisters run a nursing home and hospice in Richmond for the elderly poor, those who have no one to take care of them and no money for traditional services. They run their organization almost entirely on charitable donations of money and goods.

You can sometimes run into the Little Sisters going door to door, actually begging or asking for donations. They still do it this way even in the 21st century as their founder, Saint Jeanne Jugan, did back in Paris in the 1800’s.

This month we got their newsletter and noticed a call for donations…including plants! The Sisters are looking for plants to landscape the grounds. Here’s the list of what’s needed:

  • Bleeding Hearts
  • Hosta
  • Calandiums
  • Elephant Ear bulbs
  • Ferns
  • Peonies
  • Butterfly Bushes
  • Soil
  • Mulch
  • Pruning Shears
  • Outdoor electrical cords

They also need monetary donations, so if you can spare a bit this month, it’s always appreciated. All of the donations go to taking care of the elderly residents and their medical needs (none of the money goes to any other group or back to the Diocese from what I understand).

Looking out over my flower garden, I have about six large Butterfly Bush seedlings – volunteers from the sweetly scented purple one that seeded everywhere. And I mean everywhere! I’ve got Butterfly bushes popping up in the walkways and all over the yard. If I pot them up now and nurture them, I may just be able to donate them this spring. I’m so excited by this project! Not only can I find a home for those Butterfly bushes, but I can help the Sisters and the elderly in just one more way. My flowers can give joy to the elderly residents in their garden. I love it when I can combine support for Catholic organizations, doing good works AND gardening. Talk about a win-win-win!

 

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Comments

  1. Colleen Wms

    Thanks for sharing this! I have been there a few times when they have their indoor yard sales and the grounds are lovely. I will pass this info around to my master gardener association if I can.
    Right now, we are in plant collection mode to sell a the Spring Fest on Apr. 24 but maybe we can find some before that and certainly afterwards.

  2. Jeanne

    Thanks Colleen! I’m sure any and all donations would be welcome. I’m looking forward to visiting there soon myself.

  3. Colleen Wms

    I also want to copy/refer to your post to my blog to spread the word to people who see mine.
    I had my LAST MG class today. YIPPEE!!! Now I may be able to carve out some time for my love of blogging and reading some of my fav garden bloggers, LIKE YOU. It’s been tough.
    I also signed up for the Sisters newsletter. If you can forward me the newsletter you received with the request, I’d love to have it. That’ll make my request to others easier.
    It also dawned on me, do you know Sister Jean at Belmead/St.Emma?
    I’m going to e-mail you separately anyway about your book & a possible speaking engagement opportunity that was forwarded to me. I’m slowly reading it and it is awesome! I need to buy a few more copies to give as gifts to everyone who keep asking me questions!!

  4. Jeanne

    Hi Colleen,

    Wow, I am so glad you like the book! The new publisher (Lulu) did a great job on it so I think you will like it.

    I don’t know Sister Jean at Belmead, but I’m still pretty new in Virginia and meeting folks.

    Yes, email me privately with the info – let’s talk 🙂

    In the meantime, let’s pot up some plants to donate to the nursing home run by the Little Sisters!

    Jeanne