Floral Industry of Connecticut, the Nation & the World Responds to Newtown Tragedy 

CNLA's Executive Director Bob Heffernan, who also leads the Connecticut Florists Association (CFA), worked to coordinate the flow of flowers and volunteer floral designers for the outpouring of grief following the Sandy Hook School massacre last month. With only one florist in Newtown, Bob knew it would be an unprecedented challenge in managing a huge demand for flowers from mourners shocked by the loss.  An appeal by CFA went viral across the world, resulting in more than 75 designers willing to volunteer, and the shipment and donation of more than 700 cases of cut flowers that landed in front of Newtown Florist.  The flowers came from all over the U.S., South America, and Europe. Bob set up inside the flower shop where teams helped design the hundreds of floral pieces, while others made deliveries, and still more processed and conditioned the cut flowers.  Emotions ran high as the Newtown Florist staff and volunteers often put in 16-hour days to manage the task.  Congratulations to Bob and all those involved in the heart-felt and herculean effort!