Flower to the People

Our Story

A garden gate, a few mason jars, and a really good idea.

Flower to the People started small: a homegrown honor-system flower stand set up roadside in Gorham, Maine. Every morning and evening, fresh bouquets go out in jars and vases. Every dollar raised goes straight to Maine Needs and Project Relief Maine.

What started as a quiet neighborhood project caught on fast. Neighbors began stopping by daily, other local growers offered to pitch in blooms, and the stand became a small, steady act of generosity anyone could take part in. This summer, the story reached a wider audience.

TV Featured on WMTW Portland "Flower to the People: Maine gardener selling blooms to support local causes" →

Close-up of the Flower to the People stand's information board, with Venmo QR code, Instagram handle, and a note about where donations go

Venmo QR code for @flowertothepeoplemaine

Support The Stand

Can't stop by? Donate on Venmo.

Every dollar goes to Maine Needs and Project Relief Maine, same as flowers bought right at the stand. Please be generous. xo

@flowertothepeoplemaine →

The Vision

One stand was never the plan.

The next chapter takes the same donation-based model and spreads it — more stands, more buckets, more hands. Here's how the pieces fit together, and where flower farmers and shop owners come in.

Growers & shops donate blooms

Maine flower farmers and florists contribute extra stems, seconds, or a standing weekly donation — no obligation, whatever you can spare.

Stands & buckets go up around town

Donated blooms are arranged into bouquets and set out at Flower to the People stands, and in simple donation-based buckets in busy spots.

Volunteers give out blooms

On Saturdays, volunteers hand out flowers in person during set windows in high-traffic areas — putting a face to the project and meeting neighbors directly.

Every dollar goes to community causes

Proceeds are shared with local organizations — currently Maine Needs and Project Relief Maine — supporting families across the state.

Gallery

The stand, in bloom.

A look at the original Flower to the People stand — the bouquets, the hand-painted sign, and the little details that make it feel like home.

The Flower to the People stand painted in sage green with hand-lettered sign, filled with wildflower bouquets in mason jars

Wide shot of the flower stand set up on the lawn, surrounded by trees, full of colorful bouquets

Close-up bouquet of zinnias, cosmos, and Queen Anne's lace in a mason jar

$Deep red and burgundy dahlias with wildflowers on the stand's info board$ A hand holding a small bud vase bouquet of zinnias in front of the stand's Venmo QR code sign

A hand holding a small bud vase bouquet of zinnias in front of the stand's Venmo QR code sign

Bright orange cosmos, calendula, and Queen Anne's lace bouquet on the stand

A hand holding a mason jar bouquet of dahlias and pink cosmos

Wide shot of the flower stand with a pink donation cash box and bouquets including gladiolus and phlox

Close-up of the stand's information board with a peach dahlia and colorful wildflowers

A backyard garden bed full of peach dahlias, purple asters, and lantana in evening light

Two bumblebees on a bright pink zinnia blossom

A golden retriever puppy sniffing a bouquet of magenta zinnias and sunflowers

Close-up of a sunflower center covered in bumblebees

A single yellow sunflower with deep red centers around its core

A peach strawflower blossom with dew drops on its petals

Close-up of a sunflower center with several bees gathering pollen

A field of magenta and pink cosmos flowers in bloom

The flower stand's hand-painted legs, decorated with small flower and vine designs, with an empty jar crate below

Close-up of the stand's hand-painted legs with flower and vine details

Where Your Donation Goes

Every dollar raised is shared between two Maine organizations.

Maine Needs

Maine Needs provides essentials like clothing, hygiene products, and household goods to people across Maine who are starting over or facing hardship — including families new to Maine, domestic violence survivors, veterans, and people in recovery.

Project Relief Maine

Project Relief is a Black immigrant-led mutual aid and racial justice collective based in Maine, working on the front lines to support immigrant families and fund legal support for those affected.

Get Involved

There's a place for you in this.

Whether you grow flowers, sell them, or just want to help hand them out — this only works with more people in it.

Growers & Shops

Have extra stems, seconds, or want to set up a recurring donation? Maine flower farms and florists are the heart of this project. Let's talk about what works for your season.

Email us →

Volunteers

Willing to help arrange bouquets, maintain a stand, or hand out flowers on a Saturday? Join the volunteer list and we'll reach out as new stands and shifts open up.