NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. — Volunteers for Hearts in Bloom Buffalo spent the day delivering flowers and gifts to widows and widowers for Valentine's Day.
It's a campaign started by a Niagara County woman to bring joy to people who may be forgotten on this holiday.
Catherine Szabad started Hearts in Bloom Buffalo after being inspired by a woman in North Carolina who started her own campaign to deliver flowers to widows on Valentine's Day.
From her home in Wheatfield, Szabad and the Hearts in Bloom volunteers spent hours on Tuesday making sure every card, gift, and flower was perfectly placed, so they could be delivered to dozens of deserving widows and widowers for Valentine's Day.
"We had a woman that makes charcuterie boxes, so everyone's getting a charcuterie box, and we have cheesecake, we have wine, we have cards made by children from three different area schools," Szabad said.
When 2 On Your Side caught up with Szabad on Wednesday, she was already a few deliveries in.
"The gentleman that I made the delivery to a little while ago, he said Valentine's Day is not the same anymore. In fact, all holidays are not the same anymore and he spends every holiday visiting, going to the cemetery. But today, he said he was very surprised and he said he can't wait to look through all the box of items that were delivered to him," Szabad said.
We went with her to her next surprise delivery.
"We are going to visit a woman in North Tonawanda, and she was nominated by her daughter," Szabad said.
Dolly Koszelak lost her husband seven years ago.
Szabad unpacked Koszelak's gift box showing her the candy, handmade soap, and wine before moving on to her next delivery to brighten someone else's day.
"We hope you enjoy everything today," Szabad said.
"This is a surprise, and thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you so much. I'll remember this for the rest of my life," Koszelak said.
"Aw, that's sweet," Szabad said.