Imagine seeing the smile on a senior’s face when he/she receives a rose on Valentine’s Day, thanks to the kindness of a family member, friend or even a total stranger. That’s where Cupid Crew – a grassroots organization based in Denver, Colorado – comes into the picture. The group has thousands of independent volunteers hand deliver roses to the eldery, who are living alone, in nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the United States and around the world. Isolation affects over 16 million senior citizens, according to stats provided by Cupid Crew.
Cupid Crew – which exists within Wish of a Lifetime (a non-profit organization that grants lifelong wishes to senior citizens, many of whom have lost their loved ones and are forgotten or isolated – initially started out as an idea in 2014 to decrease isolation and increase connections between older and younger generations in Denver In its inaugural year, 18 volunteers hand delivered 1,400 roses in the Denver metro area.
“That would not only would give some people something really meaningful to do on Valentine’s Day, but it would also highlight how many seniors don’t have a loved one or may not have family members or friends who visit them on a daily basis,” Cupid Crew Event Director Jared Bloomfield told us.
“Seniors are incredibly special and have a lot to offer, but are all too often isolated. So we believe that there’s not enough attention and praise towards members of our oldest generation, who not only did so much for us, but continue to provide so much from a wisdom perspective.”
The independent movement stayed local to the state until 2017 when Cupid Crew decided to go nationwide. Then in 2018, Cupid Crew went international, making their presence known in countries like New Zealand and Mexico. At least 2,000 volunteers distributed 20,000 in hundreds of cities worldwide that year.
“It was interesting being on a call 12 hours behind, due to the different global time zones, with people from Australia, London, and China and trying to buy roses in different countries,” Bloomfield noted. “But it’s been really amazing to see the movement build from local to national to international [in such a short amount of time].”
The local connections
In 2017, Cupid Crew coordinated the deliveries of 10,000 roses across the country. Last year, volunteers delivered 30,000 roses in 300 cities globally – with about 15,000 of those roses in Colorado alone. This year’s goal is to have 5,000 volunteers deliver 50,000 roses in 10 countries.
Bloomfield told us that there has always been a presence in New York City since launching in 2017, and he’s sure that will continue this year. He also distinctly remembered a group of Manhattan volunteers distributing 500 roses to facilities in the Financial District last year.
Susan Myer, owner of Generations Home Healthcare in Bedminster, New Jersey, will be part of the #CupidCrew movement for the first time this year. Two years ago, her home care agency was implementing their Sunshine Program (the mission of which is to overcome loneliness, one senior at a time, through compassionate, one-on-one engagement wherever they may call home) when she became aware of Wish of a Lifetime. Myer wanted to work with Cupid Crew this year because Wish of a Lifetime and Cupid Crew share her passion for seniors.
She told us that she and her team of 10 volunteers (comprised of staff members and maybe some local high school students) will be delivering 200 roses to residents in assisted living facilities and long-term care communities located in Bridgewater and hopefully Chatham.
“I am so excited to get out there, touch the hearts of so many seniors on Valentine’s Day and bring a smile to their faces,” Myer said. “If everything goes as planned, we look forward to participating on a larger scale in years to come!”
Building momentum and interest
Though Cupid Crew works year round on preparations, logistics, national press outreach and sponsorship packages, everyday people usually become involved in the beginning of February. Bloomfield noted that it really becomes crunch time a week before Valentine’s Day when volunteers typically sign up their own teams.
You can build your own regional volunteer team and can post photos of deliveries out in the communities using the hashtag #CupidCrew. If you aren’t able to deliver roses with other volunteers here at home, you can also donate one dollar to the movement (through Wish of a Lifetime’s website or their Facebook fundraiser on or before Valentine’s Day), which pays for one high-quality rose to be sent to a senior somewhere in the United States.
“It’s grown in an incredible way because people really resonate with this idea that one small good deed, one small act can really go a long way and change people’s lives,” Bloomfield said. “We’ve been totally blessed with amazing and passionate volunteers who have taken this idea to great lengths. And we’re excited to see where it’s going to go.”
For more information, visit wishofalifetime.org/events/cupidcrew/.
Top photo courtesy of Cupid Crew
Author
George Fiala has worked in radio, newspapers and direct marketing his whole life, except for when he was a vendor at Shea Stadium, pizza and cheesesteak maker in Lancaster, PA, and an occasional comic book dealer. He studied English and drinking in college, international relations at the New School, and in his spare time plays drums and fixes pinball machines.
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