DUNCAN – Think Ability Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit multiservice organization that provides quality of life and community inclusion opportunities to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, recently announced its latest fundraiser.
For the past two years, the organization has had continued success by creating, selling and delivering fresh floral arrangements to their customers’ favorite valentines.
“Last year we sold out two days before Valentine’s Day,” said Sheila DeCarlo, manager of Think Ability’s Community Garden, who also manages the Duncan Farmers Market.
With reasonably priced arrangements and free delivery to certain parts of the Duncan community, DeCarlo and her team are confident that sales will go well again this year, prompting a 25% increase their floral order.
“We’re offering free delivery to Duncan, Comanche, Marlow and Empire. Anything farther – Waurika, Ratliff, Velma and Bray – will cost an additional $5 delivery charge,” said DeCarlo.
While Think Ability’s Community Garden has grown to be a great success – producing fresh vegetables and vibrant flowers in the warmer months – “we’re producing a little lettuce, radishes and things like that, but we’re not really producing what we can in the summertime,” she said.
Valentine’s Day sales “help in the wintertime when the garden is not producing as much as the summer months,” DeCarlo added. “All the money raised by Think Ability Inc. goes toward services for people with disabilities.”
In addition the Community Garden, Think Ability is also able to generate revenue through Power Print, the screen-printing service established in 1992, Think Ability Market and janitorial services for the State Capitol as well as close to two dozen other state buildings. The organization has also secured custodial contracts with businesses, churches and organizations in the area.
Anticipating another sellout season, DeCarlo and the team are gearing up help the community members celebrate the 3rd century Roman saint most commonly associated with courtly love.
“We have the vases here, and we’ll make the bows, but the roses will be here shortly before Valentine’s Day,” she said. “We’ll put the all the arrangements together and get them ready to deliver just like a florist would.”
Delivered and tax included, customers should expect to pay $55 for a dozen multicolored roses; $65 for a dozen red roses, DeCarlo said. In addition, Think Ability offers a half-dozen and single rose arrangement options as well as carnations, balloons, toys, candy and snack baskets.
Posting an order form on Think Ability Community Garden’s Facebook page on January 18, the post has been shared 19 times before Ledger press time.
Although Think Ability has a limited supply of Valentine’s Day flowers, DeCarlo added that getting flowers and/or gifts brings smiles to recipients’ faces as well as the deliverers and floral arrangers.
“My team loves working with the flowers,” DeCarlo added. “They love the smells when the roses get delivered. They love to deliver – the whole thing.”
In the interest of public health, Think Ability employees will continue practicing social distancing, proper mask usage and frequent handwashing.
“Normally, when we walk in with a beautiful bouquet, the recipient wants to give our team member a big ol’ hug for delivering it, and pictures get taken,” she said. “But it will be a little different this time because of the pandemic.”
For prompt delivery, orders must be received by Thursday, February 11.
Order online at http:// roses.thinkabilitycommunitygarden.com, via email at garden@thinkabilityfirst.com or by calling 580-641-3309.