The owner of a Burnaby flower shop is asking the public to open their hearts – and their pockets – this holiday season.
For the last three years, Mandy Karpoff with Plush Floral Studio in the Heights has been handing out stockings on Christmas Day to residents living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
About a month before the big day, she buys dollar store stockings and asks customers and friends to return them filled with goodies.
“People fill them up with personal hygiene items, snacks, warm hats, stuff like that,” she said, noting $10 in enough to fill one. “It’s cheaper than a cheap bottle of wine. Some people get really excited; they take one and they come back with three that they bought on their own, or some people write a little private note or a Christmas card. It’s a pretty cool thing.”
Forty stockings were handed out in 2014, added Karpoff, and another 200 were given out last year. Asked if a goal has been set this time around, she said “as many as I can.” So far, half a dozen stockings have been returned.
“They really seem to be grateful,” Karpoff said of the residents. “It’s really lovely – eye contact and hugs, and a little bit more along the lines of what I think the season should be about.”
The florist said last Christmas, the 200 stockings were given away in 10 minutes.
“That’s why I’m like I would love to make it like 15 minutes’ worth or like half an hour, or need like a couple vehicles,” she told the NOW.
Karpoff is encouraging anyone wanting to participate in her stocking campaign to give her a call at 604-291-9988 or visit her website, plushfloralstudio.ca/p/promotions. She’ll be accepting them until Dec. 24.
Plush Floral Studio is at 3978 Hastings St.
