Although it’s been two weeks since Valentine’s Day, members of the University
community still found an occasion to send flowers to a loved one—and all for a
good cause.
Over the past few weeks, students have purchased bouquets of daffodils to send
to friends and family through the Daffodil Days program. The flower sale’s
proceeds all go to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The program, which is run
through the ACS at a national level and the Office of Community Service and
Volunteerism on campus, has been a springtime institution on campus for the past
ten years.
“The response has been pretty good so far, even though the flowers are being
delivered during spring break this year,” said Maria Timbancaya ’10, the current
student coordinator of Daffodil Days. “And its not just students that have been
responding, but many members of faculty and staff too”
She noted that the daffodils are the focal point of this program because they
are the first flowers of spring, representing hope for a future where cancer is
no longer a life-threatening disease.
Timbancaya first learned of the project two years ago, when she was looking for
community service projects that the Freeman Asian Scholars Association could
take on.
“We felt that we wanted to be more than just scholars, and give back to a
community that has given so much to us, Timbancaya said. “Daffodil Days seemed
like the perfect project for us.”
Many of the Freeman scholars involved in the project echo Timbancaya’s
sentiments.
“When I first heard about the program, and how much it raised last year, I was
so surprised and touched by the amount of effort, time and money the Wesleyan
community was willing to put into this initiative,” said Aunchisa Tapanakornvut
’12.“ In Thailand, where I come from, you learn that every dollar can help, and
that it can go a very long way. So I thought that I would join in the effort and
hopefully, help to raise even more funds.”
Isabelle Martinez ’12, another Freeman scholar, found the program particularly
unique, and was impressed by the program’s success in past years.
On average, the University raises between $800 and $1,500 a year for the
initiative, according to Director for Community Service and Volunteerism
Catherine Lechowicz. So far, Daffodil Days volunteers on campus have collected
$1,055.
Although the program is closely linked to the Freeman Asian Scholars
Association, Timbancaya notes that non-Freeman affiliated students have also
been proactive in volunteering.
“We’ve had a number of students approach our table and immediately offer to help
us in any way, because they’ve been affected by cancer in some way, or simply
because they want to support the cause” she said. “It’s been very heartening.”
The flowers will be delivered to the Office of Community Service and
Volunteerism between March 16 and 19. Once the flowers reach campus, volunteers
deliver the orders to faculty and staff, while students often pick up and
deliver their own orders.
Although Daffodil Days stopped taking orders at Usdan on February 25, orders can
still be made if donors are willing to pay upfront. Donations must be made
through a coordinator, so those hoping to place orders should contact Timbancaya
or process them through the ACS website under Timbancaya’s name. The final
opportunity for donations ends on March 2.
