WHEATFIELD, N.Y. (WKBW) — Last Valentine's Day, Hearts in Bloom gave baskets to 40 widows and widowers. But come 2025, this nonprofit is gearing up to make the event even bigger and better.
It may not even be Christmas yet, but for Hearts in Bloom founder, Catherine Szabad in Wheatfield, the countdown to Valentine's Day is on.
"I can't wait to do it again," said Szabad. "I was very humbled by all the responses."
Last year, I went door-to-door with them, delivering flowers and gifts to widowers in our community, like Frank Ganci in the Town of Tonawanda.
Szabad is looking to more than double the recipients to 100 widows and widowers, and she's accepting nominations from all across our area.
"I'm hoping that I continue to get the support that I received last year and then some," she said. "I want to do more and I'm hoping that Western New York can help me get there."
However, she can't do this alone. This season of giving, she's asking for volunteers to sign up and anybody to donate to their GoFundMe to make this dream a reality.
She will begin accepting widow nominations in early January, first come, first serve.
