Good Neighbor Day returns with 15,000 roses to spread across the region

Good Neighbor Day returns to downtown Council Bluffs Wednesday, Sept. 9, when Bloomworks Floral will give away 15,000 roses and ask those receiving them to help spread the flowers throughout the community.

The annual event begins at 8 a.m. at the floral shop on the 100 Block and will continue until the roses are gone. Owner Alisa Roth said each visitor receives a dozen roses and is asked to keep one and give the remaining 11 to other people. “Come get some roses. Spread some joy throughout the community,” Roth said. “The goal is to see how far we can spread it.”

Good Neighbor Day has been a part of Council Bluffs for more than 20 years and has grown into an annual tradition for both the business and many of those who participate. Roth said some people make a point of returning each year, while the roses regularly find their way into schools, hospitals, retirement communities, businesses and neighboring towns.

The bulk of the 15,000 roses are expected to be distributed between 8 and 10 a.m. Roth said people have begun lining up as much as 45 minutes before the event in previous years, although arriving that early is not necessary. The line generally moves quickly, and curbside service will also be available for those who prefer to remain in their vehicles.

This year’s event will include Reiver cheerleaders helping with the drive-by portion of the giveaway, along with other activity around the shop. Backpackers Coffee is expected to provide samples, while nearby businesses are also participating in the morning. The large squirrel that has become part of the annual event will return for photographs.

Putting 15,000 roses into the hands of visitors requires considerable preparation before the first person reaches the door. Roth said her staff arrives early and works to make sure the flowers are ready for distribution, including getting thousands of roses into water when necessary. While the flowers themselves may last only a matter of days, Roth said their purpose is accomplished much sooner. “The gesture is already taking place when you give somebody the flowers,” she noted.

The event is also supported by local businesses throughout the area. Roth estimated between 70 and 75 sponsors are involved this year, helping Bloomworks Floral reach the 15,000-rose total. That support is especially meaningful to Roth because many of the sponsors are small business owners who are regularly asked to contribute to community causes themselves. “It does my heart good because it’s a lot of business owners like us who are asked daily for donations,” she said.

Good Neighbor Day also creates an unusual social gathering in the middle of downtown. Roth said longtime customers often see people they know while waiting for flowers, while others make their annual visit to the shop specifically for the event. The short time spent in line can become a chance to reconnect with someone they have not seen for months.

The giveaway comes during a particularly busy season for Bloomworks Floral. Roth said September and October are among the busiest months of the year for weddings, particularly as more couples choose outdoor venues throughout Council Bluffs, Omaha, Glenwood and the surrounding area. Even with that workload, Good Neighbor Day remains a fixture on the shop’s calendar and gives the business an opportunity to focus on something other than its regular daily work.

Roth describes the event as a simple act of kindness with no strings attached. The person receiving the dozen roses becomes part of the effort by deciding where the other 11 should go, allowing a single visit to the shop to reach people throughout the community. “It’s a feel-good gesture,” Roth said. “Just an act of kindness.”

Good Neighbor Day begins at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Bloomworks Floral in downtown Council Bluffs and will continue until all 15,000 roses have been distributed. Updates and a live video from the event are expected to be available through the business’s Facebook page.