“We wanted to make a statement.”
— Lynette Shonnards, Shonnards Nursery Pink Days, Invincible Spirit
When plant supplier Proven Winners offered to donate to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure with the purchase of a pink hydrangea it called Invincibelle Spirit several years ago, Shonnard’s Nursery, Florist and Landscape eagerly agreed to sell the plant in its shop on Philomath Boulevard.
But for the independent, family-owned business, it wanted to do something additional that would have a local impact on their customers and the community. That’s how the idea for Pink Days got started, according to Andrea Shonnard, assistant manager at Shonnard’s. Invincibelle Spirit became the template for an even bigger promotion and celebration. Working with other vendors, Shonnard’s picked several items in the store with a portion of proceeds to be donated to Project H.E.R., and a plant auction was organized.
In the second year of Pink Days, Shonnard’s and its customers raised more than $5,000 for Project H.E.R.
“We’re local, and we didn’t want to send off the money we raised somewhere else,” Shonnard said.
The most touching response came from customers with cancer and cancer survivors. Gardening is a welcome distraction during cancer treatment, and the beauty of the flowers uplifts them, said owner Lynnette Shonnard. Pink Days supports the community and the people whose lives are affected by cancer.
“We wanted to make a statement,” Lynnette Shonnard said. “Look what this little business can do!”
Shonnard’s Pink Days will be held June 18-21, 2015