Category: Make an Impact

Written by our Founder and CEO, our Celebrations Pulse Sunday Letters aim to engage with our community. From sharing stories to welcoming your ideas, we want to help you to express, connect, and celebrate the important people in your life.

Staying Connected Now Is More Important Than Ever

Whether times are good, bad, or anywhere in between, a true friend always makes experiences better. But, these days, to create and nurture a friendship can be challenging with less opportunities for physical contact.

We spoke recently with Dr. George Everly, a psychologist who serves on the faculties of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. We are such fans of Dr. Everly and the important work he is doing. He shared a profound insight: We all talk about social distancing, but we should be talking about physical distancing instead. Dr. Everly conveyed that although we want to avoid close contact with others from a physical distance perspective, this does not mean shrinking our social networks and sacrificing social interactions — especially those of us who may already be lonely.

Find a COVID buddy to share your experiences

In a recent Psychology Today article, Dr. Everly recommends to find a “COVID buddy,” a friend, neighbor, family member, or co-worker that we trust, share experiences, and convey our feelings. Dr. Everly points to research that shows that the support of others is the most significant factor to ensure an individual’s personal resilience and success.

If you want to be an effective COVID buddy yourself, consider developing your psychological first aid skills. Dr. Everly co-authored The Johns Hopkins Guide to Psychological First Aid, which teaches both everyday people and medical professionals how to mitigate the effects of acute stress and trauma and help those in crisis better cope with adversity — something of value to all of us.

Prioritizing our children’s development

It’s also critical for young people to maintain relationships with their friends. Dr. Daniel Willingham Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, shared his thoughts in a recent Washington Post article on the importance of helping kids navigate the challenges of COVID by helping shape their experiences and memories.

For his three teenagers, he writes, he wants to “minimize bitterness about the restrictions on our lives and maximize gratitude for our health and well-being.”

In speaking with Dr. Willingham, he noted that he and his family take stock each day of what they’re grateful for and try to focus on new family traditions, instead of focusing only on the traditions that are ‘on pause.’

We were discussing our conversations with Dr. Everly and Dr. Willingham with Robert Tas, our Chief Growth Officer, who was thinking about his own child’s growth and development during these challenging times. Robert shared that the other morning he woke up at 5AM to exercise and was surprised to see his son up that early. His son said he was up early to connect with his friends via a video chat. Robert’s son is on video calls all day for school and doesn’t have enough time to socialize. Robert was torn- – he doesn’t want his son on a computer 15 hrs a day but he also wants his child to be able to socialize and connect with his friends.

We’ve been hearing about others experiencing similar challenges and questions about their children. Based on your feedback, we are thinking about hosting an upcoming event to discuss COVID’s impact on children. Let us know if this would be of interest to you: EMAIL US

Many people of all ages are feeling alone these days. The mental and physical health of our community is, and will remain a priority, demonstrated in part by our Connection Communities, which we developed in partnership with the peer-to-peer support app, Wisdo. In fact, in October we saw the Loneliness Community’s page views increase almost 120% as compared to in September.

We hope these ideas and advice may provide inspiration and directions for you. We’re grateful for our relationship with you.

Have a great week and stay safe,

Jim and Chris

P.S. In an #Aftershock column published in @Worth Media last week, Jim explores the emotional toll of COVID and how we can focus on our collective mental health this holiday season.

P.P.S. We encouraged you to remember and support your employers on Boss’s Day earlier this month, and you were paying attention! Boss’s Day orders for delivery to a business address were down from last year, as expected, but orders for delivery to a residence were up 350%, with an increase overall from last year. We bet you made someone’s day with your thoughtfulness, and we’re happy we could be a part of that.

Our Sunday letters are direct from our Chairman and CEO and aim to provide a message of hope and inspiration. We share the best stories that show how others aim to express, connect and celebrate the people most important to them during these trying times.

We wanted to share some important things we are working on, to solve real-life problems that impact all of us. It’s been on our minds recently as we get closer to the holidays, and as this challenging year comes to an end.

Creating real human connections

Each October, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, recognizing the many accomplishments of people with disabilities who are in our nation’s workforce. In the past, we talked about Smile Farms, a non-profit we founded to create meaningful work opportunities in agricultural settings for individuals who are differently abled. We are so proud of the work Smile Farms does to create these jobs and for the positive impact it has on our community, team members and our families.

It’s been such an important area for us to make a meaningful impact and provide pathways. While our company is about expressions and sharing of celebrations, maybe the most important thing we can do is to positively impact the world around us. The real beneficiary of an organization like this is the people who support it, as they are helping a worthy and important cause.

And now more than ever, the pandemic we’ve all experienced has both created and magnified many challenges in today’s world. But together, we can impact necessary change.

Growing up hungry is a reality for many

As we head into the holiday season, we’ve launched a very special philanthropic effort with No Kid Hungry to help ensure children have access to the food they need. Because of the pandemic, one in four children could face hunger this year, according to No Kid Hungry. That is unacceptable and it is incumbent upon all of us to do something about this.

No Kid Hungry is working hard to make sure children are fed during this health crisis and beyond. You can help. When you shop our Season of Sharing holiday gift collection now through December 24, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. will donate 20% of the net proceeds* from each gift purchased to No Kid Hungry. For every dollar No Kid Hungry receives, it can provide up to 10 meals to children in need.**

There are so many challenges we face as a society. We are committed to helping alleviate hunger in this country, amplifying this issue and being part of the solution. Look for more information and content on this important cause, coming soon.

Prioritizing the mental health of our communities

Another challenge on our mind is mental health. As you know, the loneliness epidemic and the collective mental health consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are on our minds. While we’ve recently launched our Connection Communities, we are looking to do more, to help more, where possible.

Finally, a few weeks ago we talked about our concerns about the overall climate in which we are living and the psychological challenges we as a society face given the pandemic and its aftershocks.

Many of the activities we have come to expect during Fall are on hold, and as the days get shorter, and the temperatures fall, we are concerned about the mental health of our communities. We fleshed this out further in Worth, if you have an interest in learning more.

Jim and Chris

*The company will donate 20% of the net proceeds from each gift purchased from the collection to No Kid Hungry, with a minimum commitment of $50,000. “Net Proceeds” shall be defined as the gross sales price of the product less any and all taxes, service charges, shipping and handling charges, discounts, gift certificates, promotional gift certificates, promotional offers (e.g. airline miles, points, e-money, etc.) credits, rebates, chargebacks, refunds, credit card processing fees and gift certificate cancellations. Products in the “Season of Sharing” collection benefitting No Kid Hungry are not eligible for discounts or combinable with offers. Void where prohibited.

**$1 can provide up to 10 meals. Meal equivalency varies during COVID-19 relief. Learn more at NoKidHungry.org/OneDollar.

Celebrations community trends

P.S. Part 2 of Jim’s conversation with #Jolty, a new podcast from friends Faith Popcorn, Adam Hanft and @Maggy Wilkinson is now live. In this episode, titled the “Connection Crisis,” we talked about the epidemic of loneliness created by the pandemic, and why it’s important for companies and brands to pay attention to this problem. Listen here.

P.P.S. We were lucky enough to share the virtual stage at Techonomy’s The Health + Wealth of America on Thursday. We discussed leading through challenging times and all the difficulty, as well as opportunity for growth, that it affords.

Our Sunday letters are direct from our Chairman and CEO and aim to provide a message of hope and inspiration. We share the best stories that show how others aim to express, connect and celebrate the people most important to them during these trying times.

The role of business leaders is changing, and, frankly, has been for a while. Often we are asked to opine, and have a point of view on, the issues of the day. We were recently asked by Juliet Scott-Croxford, CEO of Worth, about how we feel about the pandemic and where things are heading for the world, business and everyday life as we once knew it.

Six months after COVID-19 erupted, we feel very differently about the virus and its impact on us, our businesses, our societies, our culture and our families. In the very beginning, many of our fears and concerns were primal. We wondered: Would our loved ones, friends, and family have access to food and medical care? Today, healthcare access and the treatment modality are better, and there are vaccine options on the horizon. There have been recent discoveries about what the virus does to our body and how we can avoid exposure with simple and effective methods like hand washing and wearing masks. By this time next year, we hope this pandemic will be in the rear view mirror. Having this timeline will help us to better understand, and cope with, the unknown.

In the meantime, many of us are adjusting, and then readjusting, to an ever-changing new reality. Developing new routines, combined with the normal stressors of everyday life, can cause challenges for one’s physical and mental well-being.

Clear your head

Self-care is especially important when so much of our lives, which were once held together by specific routines, are so significantly changed. As fall continues, there is no better way to rejuvenate your mind and body than by taking a trip outside. But don’t just take our word for it, listen to others too.

Clearing one’s head while being outside in fresh air can do wonders for your well-being. It also allows you to spend some quality time with family and friends.

But don’t be frightened if you’re not the most seasoned hiker. Easy-to-moderate hikes or walks around the neighborhood are always a great idea. We like to listen to podcasts on our walks. Some of our favorites include NYU Stern School of Business Professor Scott Galloway’s The Prof G Show and our friend and Board Member Adam Hanft’s podcast, Jolty, which is put on with another friend, Faith Popcorn.

Reaping the benefits of plants

If you cannot easily get somewhere outside, why not bring the outdoors to you? Filling your home or apartment with plants is not only aesthetically pleasing but healthy as well. We recently created a series of articles that reinforce these attributes, including one called Rooted in Happiness and another called Plant Parenting 101 that focuses on the physical, emotional, and mental benefits of plants. The health benefits of plants are truly remarkable. From reducing carbon dioxide levels to increasing productivity levels, plants can dramatically improve your well-being. Many of you are continuing to make efforts to improve your home and space with plants.

This week, we expanded The Plant Shop at 1-800-Flowers.com with new products, resources, and tips for our plant parents.

Care for your mental well-being

Finally, we’d like to acknowledge that World Mental Health Day is October 10th. The World Federation of Mental Health created the day to advocate for mental health as a whole and to eradicate the stigmas surrounding mental health. This is a topic we place a great emphasis on, and we hope this day can serve as a reminder to actively check in on your mental health and to reach out to family and loved ones to make sure they’re doing alright.

Whether you choose to take a walk in the woods, bring the outdoors in with plants, or simply talk to a close friend, we all must be sure to care for the mental well-being of ourselves, and those in our lives, during these particularly turbulent times.

All the best,
Jim and Chris

P.S. We partnered with Wisdo to build Connection Communities for those who would like to share their thoughts or experiences with people who have gone through similar events. We hope you find connecting to others by sharing and receiving guidance to be beneficial.