3 minute read
Local Friends at Chatham Flowers
If you were to stroll the halls of the Adult Home at Camphill Ghent, you’d be sure to catch a glimpse—or sniff—of a yellow rose here or some lilies there. Many of our wonderful elders look forward to a fresh bouquet in their rooms, whether part of a subscription or otherwise. And like others living in the Chatham area, we appreciate our relationship with our friends at Chatham Flowers.
“Having fresh flowers in our space is such a gift—both beautiful and fragrant—and helps to invigorate our physical environment,” said Kristina Labaty, Camphill Ghent’s Activities Coordinator. “Cultivating a sense of beauty and wellness is essential as we age, and we are grateful to Chatham Flowers for the significant role they play in this endeavor.”
On a busy Monday in mid-April, store owner Kathleen Rohlfs welcomed Kristina, Ilene Oloff, and Katie Schreckinger to the shop so they could pick out flowers for their unique bouquets. Upon entering, they shuffled past a tiered display of vibrant flowers in buckets of water.
Katie directs Kathleen through the sea of flowers. “I like yellow,” she says, pointing at a bunch of alstroemeria. “And also pink. I love that.” Kathleen hands Katie the long stems, which Katie gleefully carries around the shop.
Kathleen said elder communities in Ghent and Philmont are frequent customers, and so are their family members.
“We have customers that come in and order flowers to take to their loved ones there,” she said, while preparing the bouquet for Katie. She added that if the shop has an overabundance of a certain type of flower, she’ll send them to one of the local elder communities “so they’ll have some fresh flowers on their tables.”
She says it’s a special occasion for the elders, as well as her delivery drivers who look forward to visiting their elderly customers. Tony, a delivery driver for Chatham Flowers has been to Camphill Ghent many times. “I just like coming up, delivering to the residents,” he said on a recent delivery. “Making their day, making them smile.”
Kristina says our local area is bustling, and the elders of Camphill Ghent have no shortage of activities and places to visit.
“Camphill Ghent is so fortunate to be situated between the thriving communities of Ghent and Chatham,” she said. “There is always something to do nearby.”
