In the winter of 2001, Carol Landis organized an effort to create holiday flower arrangement centerpieces to be donated to local organizations. In 2 days, the LS1 and other volunteer students produced 75 centerpieces. More were made later in the week that were delivered to families, rather than organizations.

Recipients of the 2001 centerpieces included:

• Mt. Carmel Hospital
• Choices for Women (a shelter for battered women and children)
• Grant Medical Center
• Riverside Methodist Hospitals
• OSU Hospital
• James Cancer Center (made of synthetic materials, only)
• Huckleberry House
• Veteran's Administration
• Hospice of Franklin County
• St. Ann's
• a local full-care facility

Local businesses provided discounts or donations to help with the production of the arrangements. The businesses who made donations include:

• Krogers (Chambers Rd., Crown Plaza - flowers)
• Big Bear (W. 5th and Grandview, Olentangy Plaza, and Carriage Place - flowers)
• GOODMAN FLORIST (foliage/greenery),
• The Andersons (boughs)
• 5th Ave. Florist and Greenhouse (foliage/greenery)
• Staples at Lennox and MicroCenter (labels)
• Virgil Alwood florist in the Olentangy Plaza sold Linworth some greenery at a reduced price, not w/ any specific percent reduction.
• JoAnn Etc. offered 10% discount on containers, ribbon, and aqua-foam.

In addition to the businesses who provided material support, Linworth parents and students also provided an incredible array of decorations, glue guns, and other tools, and offered their time and talents, as well. A donated collection of stuffed toys was also divided among the James, Children's, OSU hospitals, and Choices for Women.

The final products were unique: they were cute, whimsical, ornate, festive, traditional, and personalized. Some used cut flowers and greenery, while others were made entirely of synthetic materials. The students seemed to enjoy the effort, even though some had no prior experience with floral arranging. Some students preferred to create the arrangements, while others helped make the cardholders or bows, and still others made phone calls and/or found the locations on a city map and/or delivered the decorations.

Thanks especially to Connie Dohan and Cathy Sato, Linworth parents who offered their time to assist the students in Carol's classes on Wednesday and also took time to deliver some of the centerpieces on Friday. Kim Nixon-Bell also provided instructional support on Wednesday, offering her expertise in artistic expression and creativity (and encouragement) to both classes. The advice and assistance they provided were very helpful since some of the students were making their first attempts at holiday arrangements.

The students' inventive creations demonstrated aesthetic principles and showed unique talents while also demonstrating a conscientious re-use of supplies and decorative materials. A variety of containers were used for the arrangements including: re-used holiday tins, coffee containers, jelly jars, coffee cups and mugs, OSU teamware, glass vases, small baskets, and other items that might have otherwise been discarded. And, the Big Room had such a nice smell throughout the week, as the display of completed decorations grew.

Other notes:

• Some of the donated decorations and leftover supplies were stored in the basement for next year's community service project. Some of the materials that were donated to Linworth will be donated to ReArt (a local recycling facility visited by artists and supported by local businesses).
• A $5 charge was made to those students who made things to take home as gifts. This amount was based on Carol's husband's experience of charging a minimal fee for a service, so that it is valued.)

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Carol's LS1 classes (who were, appropriately, studying plants) were dismissed so that students could take part in the flower arrangement project.

Angelica Dohan and her mother, Conni Dohan, creating flower arrangements.

Amy Lyons (foreground) and Kate Beller (background) with their flower arrangements.

Lauryn Davis (background) and Debra Ottman (foreground)

Brittney Odoms (left) and Marie Sato (right)

Jessi Forman with her arrangement.

A finished arrangement

The finished products

Tables set up to display the completed arrangements before they are taken to their final destination.

All of the flower arrangements on display in the Big Room.