Power in the flower
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News from Greater Polson Community Foundation
If you’ve been downtown Polson in the last few weeks, you have probably noticed the beautiful hanging flower baskets that once again adorn our beautiful little city. This is due to the tenaciousness of a big group of small town folks.
The hanging flower basket project started in the late 1980’s with a small group of citizens (one who returned from Vancouver, B.C. and saw the flower baskets there) and continued to grow in popularity to the early 1990’s when the original organizers asked the Polson Chamber of Commerce to take over management. The project was (and is) funded by downtown businesses, property owners and other individuals. The City of Polson assumed the watering responsibilities.
By about 2012 donations dropped off and the Greater Polson Community Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, agreed to accept the donations and provide the donors with a tax-deductible receipt which revitalized fundraising.
This year the city no longer wanted to do the watering because of a lack of staffing, and there was a real question as to whether we would have to give up the flower baskets. When Toni Whealon and the GPCF directors heard of this they said, “Polson without our beautiful flower baskets? No way! The flower baskets on Main Street and adjoining side streets add too much to our downtown. We can’t give them up.” So the decision was made. The GPCF would continue collecting the donations and also arrange for the basket installation, find someone to water the nearly 100 baskets once a day (twice in very hot weather), and also to water the intersection bump-outs once a week.
Suz Rittenhouse, an active community volunteer stated, “this is a great example of how our community came together to keep our town beautiful and inviting”. Jeanette Phillips, GPCF board member and flower basket lover said, “It definitely takes a village for this project as a local greenhouse plants, grows, and nurtures the baskets, generous donors receive the benefit of a tax deduction for their support, our GPCF directors saw the opportunity to serve the community by receiving the funds as well as overseeing the project this year, the City donates the water and volunteers including Andy Fors and the school staff, Twila & Wes Delaney and their family along with a group of GPCF Board members got together early one crisp May morning to hang all these baskets up.”
The result: Sponsorship of the baskets is an example of community pride, shows we love and care for our town, makes Polson inviting to our visitors, helps our economy, and the flowers brighten everyone’s day with their vibrant bright colors. Well done, Polson!
