Catherine Szabad knows how hard holidays can be for those who have lost a loved one.
“After losing my child, I experienced a silence I never expected — the world didn’t seem to notice that everything had changed,” Szabad wrote. “That grief made me very aware of how isolating loss can be, especially when there’s little space for others to recognize it.”
That became the mission behind Szabad’s company. Hearts in Bloom, in Buffalo, New York, which delivers free bouquets and gifts to widows and widowers on Valentine’s Day. In its second year, Hearts in Bloom had over 300 volunteers — enough to triple the number of people who received gifts.
This year, volunteer Morgan Cabana dropped off flowers for Rita Costantino, who lost her husband of 51 years in May 2024.
“Today is Valentine’s Day, my husband's birthday is February 20th, so I’m dealing with a couple of things in February,” Costantino told WGRZ, a local television station.
Cabana said that she couldn’t think of a better way to spend her day.
“[There’s] a sense of community and being able to bring a smile to those where this day may not be just passing by like the rest of us,” Cabana said.
In 2025, Hearts in Bloom delivered 135 gift baskets and bouquets to widows and widowers on Valentine’s Day.
“People ask me why I do this,” Szabad said. “I answer that it’s really a kind thing to do — but quietly, I know I’m really doing it for my son and to help those who have a sense of loss and missing someone they loved dearly.”
A version of this article originally appeared in the 2025 Helpers Edition of the Goodnewspaper.
Header image via cottonbro studio.
