Great Things are Growing Here!

After much planning, the seeds we planted have begun to sprout! Introducing GiGi’s Blooms, our newest participant-run micro-enterprise program — a hands-on entrepreneurial training experience for adults with Down syndrome. Through this project, participants are learning real-world skills in management and operations, design and production, customer service and sales, and inventory and maintenance.

Each month, our participants create mini flower bouquets using donated or discounted flowers. These beautiful arrangements are being shared with local businesses across the Triangle using our GiGi’s Blooms flower cart, helping to raise donations, spark conversations, and spread the message of inclusion and joy. 

It starts in the Playhouse, where our participants gather together and pick from a beautiful array of flowers. Ranging in size, petal texture, and shades, each florist observes the options and hand-selects the elements they’ll use for their creation. Then they proceed in bringing their vision to life, placing each stem carefully into the vase, arranging each bouquet uniquely as they see best fit. Topping it off with final decorations and a GiGi’s Blooms tag, the flowers are then placed onto our cart to bring into our community. It’s truly beautiful to see their talents displayed as each creation comes to fruition – once just a creative vision, now showcased vividly for all to admire. With all their hard work and preparation, the time recently came to officially share this with the world.

Last month, we celebrated our very first pop-up! On a crisp October morning, participants prepared their bouquets and brought the cart right outside the Playhouse doors, kicking off our journey where this began, right in the heart of downtown Cary. Standing ready in anticipation, the impact was immediate. Those passing by were quick to grow a smile, inquisitive both about what we were up to and GiGi’s overall. Gleaming with pure joy in learning more, they were then absolutely ecstatic receiving bouquets from our florists. Support continued to pour through, people of all ages and journeys, until ALL of our arrangements found happy homes. More than being our first successful pop-up, this gave us a further glimpse into how incredible our community is. We are being met with excitement and readiness to support not only GiGi’s Blooms and our Playhouse, but a world where people with Down syndrome are recognized as independent, productive members in the workforce and our communities.

We have such a strong inner circle of amazing supporters; our goal is to emphasize this and get the rest of the world on board. Sadly, many individuals with disabilities still experience isolation and lack the support they need to flourish. Let’s change this together – more than accepted; we want them to be celebrated! From first steps to first jobs and beyond – doing so free of charge for families.

Want to help water our mission? We’re seeking local florists and wholesalers to partner with us in making this vision bloom! Your partnership will directly support vocational training and inclusion in action – helping our participants gain confidence, connect with others, and contribute meaningfully to our community.

Some of our monthly needs include:

• 50 “Star of the Show” flowers (larger focal blooms)
• 60 – 120 “Sparkle” flowers (smaller accent blooms)
• 120 greenery stems

Have or know of a local business that’d like to host a pop-up? We’d LOVE to collaborate and bring our flower cart to your lobby or event, bringing information into your workplace and community spaces for employees to meet our participants, grab a bouquet, and learn more about GiGi’s!

Let’s grow together! If you’re interested in supporting GiGi’s Blooms in any of these helpful ways, please reach out and contact:

gigisplayhouse.org/raleigh

raleigh@gigisplayhouse.org

(919)-307-3952