Images of love and celebration flood our consciousness during February, but for some people this time of year can feel particularly lonely. One local nonprofit aims to fix that.
MOM’s Valentine for You! hopes to spread the love, with a goal to deliver 1,000 flower arrangements to community members this Valentine’s Day. We chatted with the group’s founder to learn more about the inspiring heartfelt effort.
Introduce yourself!
Hello, I’m Marie Martin. I retired in 2017 as president of the United Way of Central Virginia. My husband, Jim, and I moved to the Cary area to be closer to our son and grandchildren. Shortly after settling into the community, I became actively involved in local organizations — work that ultimately led to the creation of MOM’s Valentine for You!, a signature program under the nonprofit MOM Wishing Widows Well. I received the Governor’s Volunteer Award for Wake County in 2025 in recognition of my longstanding commitment to service and community leadership.
What inspired you to start the MOM’s Valentine for You! program?
After moving to Cary, I joined several local organizations, including the Cary Newcomers Club and the Cary Garden Club. I quickly noticed that many members were single and often alone during holidays. Along with a friend, we began delivering small flower arrangements to these individuals on special occasions.
The response was something I never expected — the joy and appreciation on people’s faces was incredibly moving. It became clear to me that I needed to do more.
Tell us some background. How did the program grow?
In 2021, I read an article in The Charlotte Observer about someone who had started an organization delivering flowers to widows and widowers in the Charlotte area. I remember thinking, “Why couldn’t we do this in Cary?”
That same year, with a small group of friends working out of my driveway, we created and delivered more than 50 flower arrangements for Mother’s Day to widows and widowers in the area. The response was overwhelming. We were soon asked to expand deliveries to Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Valentine’s Day.
Ultimately, we decided to focus on one meaningful event — Valentine’s Day — and to serve the Cary, Apex, and Morrisville communities. Following that initial Mother’s Day trial in 2021, I officially established MOM Wishing Widows Well as a nonprofit. To date, we have created and delivered more than 1,600 flower arrangements, and our goal for 2026 is to deliver 1,000 arrangements in a single year. This year’s deliveries will take place on February 13.
How do people react when they receive the arrangements?
The response has been truly heartwarming. We receive phone calls, handwritten notes, and even new volunteers as a result. You don’t always realize how much a simple bouquet of flowers can mean to someone who is alone.
One volunteer shared this story:
“Jeff and I continue to be amazed by your organizational and leadership skills! MOM Wishing Widows Well is an amazing program you have undertaken. As Martha Stewart would say, ‘It’s a good thing!’ I got my tear ducts cleaned when I delivered a plant to a young widow with three small children. We hugged and cried together. I didn’t know her story.”
Her husband had passed away just three months earlier.
What types of organizations do you partner with?
We partner with local florists, businesses, restaurants, and volunteer organizations. Harris Teeter, and particularly floral manager Julie Barry, has been a key partner. We also collaborate with local clubs, churches, Meals on Wheels, Total Adult Care Centers, Transition Life Care, and other nonprofits throughout the area.
In 2023, the program moved to the Cary Senior Center, which has been an outstanding partner and has played a significant role in helping the program grow.
Are the arrangements only for widows and widowers?
When we first started, the program focused exclusively on widows and widowers. However, we quickly learned there are many people in our community who experience loneliness — caregivers, neighbors, coworkers, friends, or family members.
For this reason, we recently changed the program’s name to MOM’s Valentine for You!, while continuing to operate under the umbrella of MOM Wishing Widows Well. The mission has expanded, but the heart of the program remains the same.
Can people suggest someone to receive flowers?
Absolutely. Anyone may visit www.momwishingwidowswell.com to suggest a recipient, make a donation, or volunteer. We request a $15 donation, which helps cover the cost of the vase, flowers, ribbon, and card. All funds are used exclusively to purchase supplies. You may also contact me directly at marie@momwishingwidowswell.com.
How can readers support your mission?
Readers can get involved by visiting www.momwishingwidowswell.com or by contacting me directly. Volunteers, donors, and community partners are all essential to helping us reach those who might otherwise be alone on Valentine’s Day.
Anything else you’d like to add?
There are two things about this program that I find especially gratifying.
First, we have an incredible group of volunteers — approximately 170 individuals — who come together each year to create beautiful arrangements and form new friendships. That is the fun part.
Second, those arrangements are delivered to members of our community who might otherwise be alone on Valentine’s Day. If we can make a difference in someone’s life, even for a few days, that is the most rewarding part of all.
By the Numbers
- In 2023, 29% of all American households consisted of just one person.
- Research shows older adults living alone often experience poorer physical and mental health outcomes and shorter lifespans.
- Loneliness has been shown to be as harmful to health as smoking or obesity.
- Charlotte and Cary rank among the top 10 US cities attracting adults age 60 and older.
- North Carolina ranks third nationally for people nearing or entering retirement.
