Great Community Give: A Day of Giving Back

Friendly City Florals: 

Friendly City Florals spreads joy by repurposing event flowers and donating them to help create a sense of community. They introduced their Bloom Bar initiative in the Memory care unit at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) and it brought so much happiness and energy to the members who were so excited to be able to arrange their own bouquet. By donating to them you can help bring more of these joyful moments to more members of the community. 

Friendly City Florals partnered with HDR for Downtown Happy Hour by giving the event’s flowers a second life. They delivered the flowers from the arrangements to local nursing homes to brighten residents’ days and composted the produce used, keeping sustainability at the heart of the celebration.

The Northeast Neighborhood Association Inc. (NENA)

The Northeast Neighborhood Association Inc. is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the history of Harrisonburg’s northeast community. This year it’s raising funds to renovate the Historic Broad Street Mennonite Church into a childcare center. This space will provide essential child care during the week, supporting families and creating a stable environment for the growth of children in future generations. Every donation will go toward creating this new childcare center. 

HDR has been involved in a partnership with the City, NENA, and the SVBHP to address the impacts of divisive infrastructure. Our team has been working with Smart Growth America for over a year to engage the residents of the Northeast Neighborhood to identify the harms of urban renewal and ways to address those harms. Our first demonstration project is coming up this summer when we will use residents’ feedback about making Mason Street safer and more pedestrian to test out temporary changes before pursuing permanent improvements. Keep an eye out for information about a block party to celebrate reclaiming this space for pedestrians along with the neighborhood’s history! Meanwhile, a top-notch research team has been digging into previously uncovered materials to tell the full history and story of urban renewal. Our partners look forward to sharing the information we learn and to implement recommendations that are coming soon in a new “small area plan,” which will share resident-informed ideas for community improvements and ways to reconnect the neighborhood with our downtown.

Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS)

Valley Program for Aging Services is a nonprofit that helps transport many adults who can no longer drive to their appointments, the grocery store, the bank, and many other important places. They allow people to age in the community they love while maintaining their independence. By donating you are helping them purchase a new vehicle so they can help more people around the community. 

This past March, HDR partnered with VPAS to launch the Lunch Together program, a meaningful initiative aimed at addressing the growing epidemic of loneliness in our community. By creating regular opportunities for connection over shared meals, the program helps foster a stronger sense of belonging among residents. Beyond that, HDR has also worked closely with VPAS to develop accessibility trainings tailored for downtown businesses. These trainings are designed to help business owners and staff create more inclusive and welcoming spaces, ensuring that downtown is a place where everyone feels valued and supported.

Mercy House

 Mercy House is a local nonprofit that offers shelter for families with children and is dedicated to fighting poverty and homelessness in our community. They are raising money to help build a new play yard, replacing the current one that has served hundreds of children over the last two decades. This space provides the children with a sense of normalcy. Your donation will help build a new, long-lasting playground that will benefit children for many years to come! 

Mercy House has been a consistent and valued supporter of HDR, helping bring energy and community spirit to downtown events. At major festivals, they contribute by setting up engaging activities like cornhole, creating a fun and inviting atmosphere for attendees of all ages. Their involvement goes beyond just entertainment as it reflects their ongoing commitment to building a stronger and more connected community. We are also excited to be exploring a new project with Mercy House involving supportive housing and a historic building in downtown!