Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Krenzel
Hi Kelly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Rooted in Love: The Heart Behind Our Mission
I spent six magical weeks every summer with my sweet Grandma Freda until I was about 15 years old. Our days were filled with gardening—me diligently weeding her many flower beds. Under her gentle guidance, my love for flowers bloomed. But more than that, she taught me the beauty of slowing down, of nurturing something with care and of simply being present with the people we love. She was the absolute best, and those summers instilled in me a deep respect and affection for seniors.
As she aged, I watched her lose the things that had once brought her so much joy—her small-town community, her ability to garden, her independence. I saw her world get smaller, drifting away from the pieces of life that had defined her.
Years later, I spent nearly a decade working at a hospice, where I had the privilege of spending time with patients and their families, listening to their stories and witnessing the power of human connection in life’s most tender moments. I saw firsthand how little it takes to help someone feel whole, even if only for a moment. A small gesture, a bit of kindness—these are the things that truly matter.
Then, in late 2015, I became a mom. Looking at my baby boy, I felt an undeniable pull to give back to my community in a tangible way. Hope Blooms was born eight months later, in July 2016. My husband set up two sawhorses and a piece of plywood in a small spare bedroom in our basement, creating my first makeshift worktable. A dear friend from Love Always Floral began asking clients if they had plans for their event flowers after their celebrations, and I started accepting donations—not realizing that those first bouquets would lead to the founding of a nonprofit. I assembled arrangements at night and on weekends, delivering them during my lunch breaks, before work or after hours.
This journey—woven from my love for my grandmother, my time in hospice care and my desire to create something meaningful—has been about more than just flowers. It’s about the unexpected moments of kindness, the quiet ways we can remind one another that we belong to something bigger than ourselves. My hope is that together, we can continue to create pockets of joy and light, lifting each other up in the simplest but most profound ways.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like any nonprofit startup, the journey of Hope Blooms has been deeply rewarding but filled with challenges. In the beginning, we had no formal infrastructure—just a simple idea, a makeshift workspace in the basement of my home and a desire to spread kindness. Balancing this passion project with a full-time job and family life (an 8-month-old son at the time and years later another son) meant many late nights and weekends assembling bouquets and early mornings delivering them before work or after work before daycare pick up.
One of the biggest challenges was securing consistent flower donations and finding a way to scale our efforts. At first, we relied on word-of-mouth and the generosity of a few florists, but as demand grew so did the need for a steady supply of flowers, funding for operational costs and a reliable volunteer network. Transitioning from an informal effort to an established nonprofit required assembling a board of directions, navigating paperwork, fundraising and community outreach.
Another hurdle was ensuring our impact remained personal and meaningful as we grew. Scaling up while preserving the heartfelt connections behind each bouquet means continuing to develop thoughtful processes for recipient outreach, volunteer coordination and donor engagement.
Despite the struggles, every challenge has been a stepping stone. The outpouring of community support, the smiles on recipients’ faces and the realization that small acts of kindness can create ripples of joy have made every hurdle worth it. The road hasn’t been smooth, but it has been filled with purpose, growth and an unwavering belief in the power of human connection.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Hope Blooms?
Simply knowing you are valued — especially during challenging times — can be a great source of hope and comfort. Hope Blooms is a budding nonprofit in Fargo, N.D., that repurposes donated flowers by rearranging them into beautiful bedside bouquets and delivering them to community members in need. We’re community builders at heart believing in the power of small acts of kindness to change lives.
The mission of Hope Blooms is to inspire hope, happiness and emotional healing through repurposed flowers, all with one message: you matter. We are dedicated to nurturing the social and emotional well-being of individuals experiencing isolation, loneliness and hardship.
We do this by spreading joy and cultivating a sense of community through our two impactful programs: Petal It Forward and Flower Empower. These initiatives not only provide tangible gifts of flowers but also foster meaningful connections, empowering individuals to feel a sense of belonging within our community.
Hope Blooms directly invests in the local community by spreading joy and hope to vulnerable individuals by transforming donated flowers into bedside bouquets, which are then delivered to individuals in assisted living community, nursing homes, memory care centers, recovery centers, shelters, cancer centers, food pantries and many other organizations. Our core programs connect thousands of volunteers annually with the opportunity to spread kindness and joy to our community members in need. In total, we serve nearly 100 facilities and groups on an ongoing basis throughout the year.
Joy is in short supply in our world that’s continually overwhelmed by negativity and uncertainty. Yet, joy is essential to our well-being, confidence and sense of belonging. Research indicates significant benefits of feeling more joy, including reduced stress, a strengthened immune system, lower blood pressure, decreased pain and a positive impact on longevity.
Fostering belonging and inclusion is at the heart of Hope Blooms. Founded in 2016 in the basement of my home, we began repurposing donated flowers into bedside bouquets, ensuring people in need feel seen and valued. Since then, we’ve blossomed into our own space, with thousands of volunteers supporting our mission each year. We’ve created more than 100,000 moments of joy, each bouquet symbolizing a real person uplifted by our work.
Hope Blooms does more than deliver flowers—we deliver human connection. Every bouquet carries a simple message: You matter. Studies show floral scents make people three times more likely to feel happy. Each bouquet restores hope, fosters healing and reminds people they are not alone.
Addressing the Epidemic of Loneliness
The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 report, “Our Epidemic of Isolation and Loneliness”, highlights the health risks of social isolation. Seniors face a 32% increased risk of stroke, a 50% increased risk of dementia and a 29% increased risk of heart disease due to loneliness. Research also shows that receiving flowers reduces depression, anxiety and agitation, making our mission even more impactful.
Through our programming, conversations and community partnerships, we bring comfort and connection to those who need it most. Many recipients share how these gestures lift their spirits:
“Made my week.”
“Helped me smile on a hard day.”
“Gave me hope.”
The Ripple Effect of Hope
Social isolation affects nearly 1 in 4 adults over 65, increasing risks of depression, heart disease and cognitive decline. Hope Blooms combats this through simple, powerful human connections.
Not only do recipients benefit, but volunteers and community members also experience the joy of giving. Studies show that acts of kindness improve mental and emotional well-being, fostering a cycle of positivity. When someone experiences kindness, they’re more likely to pass it on—creating a lasting ripple effect.
Hope Blooms excels at spreading joy and strengthening human connection. Our impact is measured in both tangible numbers and heartfelt stories, we ensure every bouquet is more than just flowers—it’s a symbol of belonging, resilience and hope.
Our Programs
Petal It Forward – A program dedicated to surprising individuals with floral deliveries, creating unexpected moments of joy and emotional connection to combat loneliness.
Flower Empower – A community-driven initiative that brings our volunteers together with individuals we serve in a hands-on bouquet-building activity, fostering connections that outlast the flowers themselves. Research shows that social connection significantly improves emotional and physical well-being, with studies linking it to reduced depression, anxiety and even lower risks of dementia and heart disease.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
As a child, I was joyful, hardworking and deeply sentimental. I was never afraid to get my hands dirty and work hard, whether it was weeding flower beds in the summer heat or lending a hand wherever I could. Even from a young age, I found joy in caring for others and noticing the little ways I could make a difference.
I’ve always had a deep love for people, especially seniors, drawn to their stories, wisdom and the quiet strength they carry. I was observant, recognizing how small acts of kindness—helping my grandma in the yard, sitting beside her and listening—could mean so much. That love for connection only grew stronger as I got older.
Hope Blooms was born from the same values nurtured during my summers with Grandma Freda—a belief in the power of kindness, the beauty of small gestures and the connections that make life meaningful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hopeblooms.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopebloomsnd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopebloomsnd
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hope-blooms-nd/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hopebloomsnd
Image Credits
Britta The Photographer
