Star Greenhouse, on State Route 127, has donated the poinsettias for hospice patients for the past 13 years. A card is attached to the poinsettia stating it is a gift from Star made possible by State of the Heart. “We have gotten some really nice notes and letters from people who received them,” said Donna DeMange, who along with her husband Mark, own the greenhouse. “When you get feedback like that, we feel it is the least we can do for patients.” Star Greenhouse, which currently has an inventory of over 10,000 flowering poinsettias gets the small rooted plants in July and nurtures them through the holiday season when they are ready for purchase. This year, they donated 135 poinsettias to the nonprofit agency.
Pauline Faller, volunteer coordinator for State of the Heart, said, “The distribution of the poinsettias has become a tradition for State of the Heart. It is heartwarming for staff to see the smiles of appreciation on the faces of families and patients when the colorful plants are delivered. It definitely brings a ray of sunshine into the lives of our families and patients.” Volunteers help in the effort by getting the poinsettias to the various offices which serve patients.
State of the Heart cares for families and patients confronting a life-limiting illness and has offices in Greenville, Coldwater and Portland. The agency serves patients in eastern Indiana and western Ohio. For more information about any of the services provided by State of the Heart, call 1-800-417-7535 or visit the agency web site at www.stateoftheheartcare.org.
Pictured at Star Greenhouse surrounded by thousands of poinsettias, left to right, Mark DeMange, Eric DeMange, Christy Baker, Development Specialist, State of the Heart, Ryan Gathard, Fund Development Director for State of the Heart, Ralph Gels, Coldwater Hospice volunteer and Bruce Miller, Greenville Hospice volunteer.