Local group uses flowers, notes to spread mental health awareness
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — A local group is handing out free flowers and handwritten motivational notes around downtown Bowling Green, hoping a small gesture can encourage someone who may be having a difficult day.
Flowers For Mental Health Awareness was started by Dylan Carder, who had already been sharing motivational messages through social media posts, shirts and necklaces. One night, he began thinking about another way to reach people.
A flower and a message to keep
Carder had seen people give flowers to strangers and others hand out encouraging notes. He decided to put the two ideas together.
The group now offers strangers a real flower along with a handwritten message.
“The notes were for them to be able to hold on to, you know, because a flower is going to die eventually,” Carder said. “So that note, that’s something they can keep with them forever and, you know, reread it anytime they need some motivation.”
When members approach someone, they explain who they are and ask whether the person would like a flower or note. Then they move on.
They do not stay to watch for a reaction, but some people have found them later.
“We’ve had a couple people reach out to us on Facebook and say, hey, we received one of your notes,” Carder said. “I really appreciate it. You know, they were going through a dark time in their life.”
Others have recognized Carder in person and thanked him again.
Why the mission matters to him
The work also carries personal meaning for Carder.
“About six years ago, I lost my closest buddy to suicide,” he said. “So it took me a while to kind of piece myself back together to the point where I can, you know, feel confident in myself.”
That loss left him with a question he still thinks about: what his friend may have been going through.
“You don’t ever know. You never understand what they’re going through,” Carder said.
Hoping kindness catches on
Four people are currently involved with the group, and most of the outreach has been done through pop-up outings.
Carder hopes more people eventually take part, but he also wants the idea to spread beyond the group itself.
“Maybe a random stranger that saw what we did will say, hey, I want to do that,” he said.
