Buffalo Nonprofit Delivers 135 Free Bouquets to Widows

Catherine Szabad understands the weight of grief during holidays. After losing her child, she noticed how the world moved on while her heart stayed frozen in loss.

That painful silence inspired Hearts in Bloom, her Buffalo nonprofit that delivers free bouquets and gifts to widows and widowers every Valentine's Day. What started small has grown into a community movement with over 300 volunteers in its second year.

This February, volunteer Morgan Cabana brought flowers to Rita Costantino, who lost her husband of 51 years last May. Costantino told local news that the timing made the gesture even more meaningful, with Valentine's Day falling just days before her late husband's birthday.

For Cabana, spending her Valentine's Day delivering flowers felt like the perfect choice. She said bringing smiles to people experiencing difficult days created a sense of community she hadn't expected.

Hearts in Bloom delivered 135 gift baskets and bouquets this Valentine's Day. Each one carried a simple message: you're not forgotten.

Sunny's Take

This story hits differently because Szabad isn't pretending to fix grief. She's just showing up with flowers and saying, "I see you." That kind of remembering costs nothing but means everything.

The volunteers gain as much as they give. Cabana discovered joy in acknowledging someone else's hard day instead of treating Valentine's Day like any other celebration.

Szabad keeps her motivation close to her heart. She tells people it's simply a kind thing to do, but privately she knows she's honoring her son and reaching others who miss someone they loved deeply.

In a world that often rushes past pain, Hearts in Bloom pauses long enough to say the hurt matters. Sometimes the most powerful gift is knowing someone else remembers too.