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Category: Community Involvement

Purchasing these arrangements supports local animal shelters

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The needs of animal shelters are diverse, from pet food to cleaning supplies, toys to towels. And they are costly to address, especially for non-profit organizations.
To help, Connells Maple Lee donates a portion of the profits from the sale of its Puppy in a Basket and Kitten in a Basket arrangements to animal shelters in its seven-county market area.
To kick off the program in 2021, Connells Maple Lee sent $100 checks to four area animal organizations: CHA Animal Shelter, Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center, Columbus Humane and Pets Without Parents.
“Plants and pets bring great joy to our lives and add warmth to our homes,” said Tom Royer, CEO of family-owned Connells Maple Lee. “We’re eager to support local animal shelters and the great service they provide in our communities.”
Available year-round, the arrangements comprise a seven-inch plush dog or cat surrounded by a three-quarter round arrangement in a basket with carnations, daisy and button poms, statice and babies breath.
Each of the arrangements is 10 inches high and 10 inches wide and retails for $44.99.
 
 

Connells Maple Lee donates to four area animal shelters

Posted on by Neal

Plants and animals just go together.
Consider the former that are named after the latter, from cattails to hound’s tongue, elephant ear to bird of paradise, rattlesnake orchids to zebra grass.
Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts even offers arrangements featuring plush animals, including Kitten in a Basket and Puppy in a Basket. Under a new program, Connells Maple Lee is donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of those two arrangements to area animal shelter and rescue efforts.
For the first awards, family-owned Connells Maple Lee sent $100 checks to four area animal organizations:
CHA Animal Shelter, Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center, Columbus Humane and Pets Without Parents.
“On behalf of the Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts family, please accept this gift in support of the love and care your organization provides to animals,” wrote Tom Royer, president and CEO of Connells Maple Lee, in a letter accompanying each donation.
The Kitten in a Basket and Puppy in a Basket arrangements are available year-round.

Connells Maple Lee Flowers saluting veterans Nov. 11 with free red, white and blue bouquets

Posted on by Neal

Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts will honor veterans with free patriotic bouquets on Nov. 11.
The bouquets – featuring a red carnation, a white carnation and a blue bow – will be available in-store only at any of Connells Maple Lee’s stores: 3014 E. Broad St., Bexley; 2033 Stringtown Road, Grove City; and 8573 Owenfield Drive, Powell.
“This is one of our favorite annual traditions,” said Tom Royer, president and CEO of family-owned Connells Maple Lee. “These men and women, along with their families, make great sacrifices while serving our country. It’s our privilege to honor our veterans.”
Non-veterans may purchase the bouquet for $2.10 each.

Connells Maple Lee donates $2,750 to three women’s charities in Ohio

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Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts has donated $2,750 to three women’s charities in Ohio.
Family-owned Connells Maple Lee earmarks $10 for women’s charities for every sale of its Admiration arrangement (left), which is available year-round.
This year’s recipients and the amount of their awards: Junior League of Columbus, $1,000; Breast Cancer Fund of Ohio, $1,000; Dress for Success Columbus, $750.
“My grandmother Hannah Royer started our company,” said Tom Royer, president and CEO of Connells Maple Lee. “Our family has a keen appreciation for the vital role that women play in our families and communities and for the importance of encouraging female empowerment.
“We’re grateful to our customers for supporting our efforts with their purchases and to this year’s recipients for the significant contributions they make on behalf of women. Congratulations to each of the recipients. It is our pleasure to support them.”

You name it, you win it: Connells Maple Lee’s new arrangement

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Every year for various reasons, Connells Maple Lee Flowers reworks approximately half of its arrangements.
This year, one of those makeovers is the focus of Connells Maple Lee’s annual name-the-arrangement contest.
This design features a cobalt blue vase filled with a rose, blue hydrangea, white stargazer lily, daisy poms, carnations and eryngium. It’s only lacking a name.
To view the arrangement and enter the contest, visit cmlflowers.com/contest. Limit one entry daily per email address, through Aug. 6.
The person who submits the winning name will receive the arrangement (retail value $59.99) as a prize.

CONNELLS MAPLE LEE FUNDS 13,500 MEALS WITH $3,000 DONATION TO MID-OHIO FOOD COLLECTIVE

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From left, Craig Truax, corporate engagement manager, Mid-Ohio Food Collective, and Andrew Royer, vice president of Ohio operations, Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts.

Every dollar donated to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective can provide up to $9.50 in groceries or enough food for up to 4.5 meals to a family in need.
By those measures, Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts’ $3,000 donation to the Food Collective will fund $28,500 worth of groceries or 13,500 meals.
Connells Maple Lee’s stores are at 3014 E. Broad St., Bexley; 2033 Stringtown Road, Grove City; and 8573 Owenfield Drive, Powell.
Tom Royer, president and CEO of family-owned Connells Maple Lee, said the donations reflect the company’s gratitude for the support it has received during the pandemic.
“We had to reinvent our company, and at times it was a painful process,” Royer said, “but we’ve become more agile and more successful. Thanks to the unwavering loyalty of our customers, we’re able to give back to our communities and help families that are struggling to put food on the table. It’s our privilege to do this.”
Mike Habash is president and CEO of the Food Collective, which is based at 3960 Brookham Drive, Grove City, and serves 20 counties.
“This donation comes right at a time when many of our neighbors are still bravely navigating through this pandemic,” Habash said. “We are so thankful to have a wonderful partner such as Connells Maple Lee that is helping us continue our work toward ending hunger.”
For more information about the Food Collective, visit mofcollective.org.

Connells Maple Lee saluting veterans with free red, white and blue bouquets Nov. 11

Posted on by Neal


Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts will continue an annual tradition when it honors veterans with free patriotic bouquets on Nov. 11.
The bouquets – featuring a red carnation, a white carnation and a blue bow – will be available in-store only at any of Connells Maple Lee’s stores: 3014 E. Broad St., Bexley; 2033 Stringtown Road, Grove City; and 8573 Owenfield Drive, Powell.
Connells Maple Lee employees and customers are required to wear masks for their safety as part of the effort to combat COVID-19.
“We always look forward to Veterans Day and the opportunity to show our appreciation for the men and women who have selflessly served our country,” said Tom Royer, CEO of Connells Maple Lee.
Non-veterans may purchase the bouquet for $1.90.

Connells Maple Lee collecting holiday cards and coloring pages for service members and veterans

Posted on by Neal


Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts is collecting holiday cards and coloring pages for service members and veterans throughout November in each of its stores.
Connells Maple Lee will present the collected items to the American Red Cross “Holidays for Heroes” program.
Cards and coloring pages may be dropped off (masks are required) at one of Connells Maple Lee’s three Columbus-area stores during normal business hours.
Free coloring pages can be downloaded at cmlflowers.com/heroes
The Red Cross offers these guidelines for preparing cards:

  • Use generic salutations: “Dear Service Member” or “Dear Veteran”
  • Be thoughtful with messages, expressing reasons why you are thankful for the service members/veterans; if you have a personal connection, such as a family member who served, consider adding that
  • Try not to be overtly religious, but messages such as “Merry Christmas” or “God Bless You” are acceptable
  • Do not include inserts such as glitter, photos, business cards
  • Do not include personal information such as telephone number, address or email
  • Sign your name

The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts donates $1,000 to New Directions Career Center in Columbus

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Photo: Celeste Gamble, development director, New Directions Career Center, and Andrew Royer, vice president of Ohio operations, Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts.

Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts has donated $1,000 to the non-profit New Directions Career Center in Columbus.
Family-owned Connells Maple Lee donates $10 to women’s charities for every purchase of its Admiration arrangement, which is available year-round.
New Directions, at 199 E. Rich St., is in its 40th year of providing career counseling, education and supportive services to help women transition from low-wage jobs or unemployment to affirming and satisfying career paths. New Directions offers career development programs, workshops and individualized services.
 

‘Harmony Harvest’ winning entry in Connells Maple Lee name-the-arrangement contest

Posted on by Neal


Kara Ferguson’s favorite time of year is the fall: crispness in the air, leaves changing color, drinking cider when it’s cold outside.
Ferguson’s fondness for fall made her a prime candidate to enter Connells Maple Lee Flower & Gifts’ contest to name a mounded pumpkin arrangement.
Her entry, Harmony Harvest, was selected as the winner among nearly 100 online submissions received Sept. 14-18. Her prize is one of the arrangements.
The all-around arrangement measures 12.5 inches high and 16 inches wide. It features a six-inch white ceramic pumpkin, country buffalo gingham bow, dusty miller, mini-green hydrangea, carnations, spray roses, charmelia, poms and limonium.
Click here if you’d like to order a Harmony Harvest arrangement.