February 11, 2016 | Press Release.pdf

PRINCETON, NJ – It’s not too late to order Valentine’s Day flowers for your loved one. In fact, doing so at a local florist may help some of the most medically needy people in your community.

Vaseful Flower and Gifts in Edison is owned and operated by Community Options, Inc., a national nonprofit organization based in Princeton, NJ whose mission is to provide housing and employment support to people with disabilities. At Vaseful, disabled adults learn the art of floral processing and arrangement, shipping, and distribution.

“Vaseful’s florists provide hands-on training to our fifteen program participants on how to design a beautiful flower arrangement for customers and help run a flower shop,” said Andrew Park, Managing Director of Community Options Enterprises. “Our program participants are doing an amazing job of enhancing their vocational skills at Vaseful, I’m very proud of them and their success in obtaining meaningful employment both here and at other businesses.”

Vaseful is just one of a few entrepreneurial businesses operated in New Jersey by Community Options to train and employ people with disabilities, while earning minimum wage or better. Presents of Mind is a boutique gift shop located in Flanders, NJ, where individuals learn customer relation skills and inventory management. Community Options also utilizes three complete office, conference, and copy centers, known as the Daily Plan It, which provide tenancy to various small businesses. Disabled adults at the Daily Plan It receive training in clerical work and customer service. They are located in Princeton, Moorestown and Morristown.

“I love seeing the expressions customers give when our program participants present them with a beautiful flower arrangement,” said Melissa Alancourt, Program Manager of Vaseful. “It is truly a wonderful feeling when people choose our shop to design their floral bouquets for Valentine’s Day and other special occasions.”

Located at 256 Route 1 North in Edison, NJ. Vaseful is open from 9 am to 7 pm this Thursday and Friday, 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday and from 9 am to 4 pm on Sunday, Valentine’s Day. Those who reside in Edison, Woodbridge, New Brunswick, North Brunswick, Highland Park, East Brunswick, Milltown, Piscataway, Kendall Park, Princeton and Somerset can have their flowers delivered directly to their front door. All purchases directly fund programs to aid individuals supported by Community Options.

Not in the Edison area? You can order from anywhere in the world by using Vaseful.com and a portion of the proceeds will go to Community Options’ programs.

About Community Options, Inc.:

For over 25 years, Community Options has developed housing and employment programs for people with disabilities – serving thousands of people through 38 offices across 10 states. Community Options provides advocacy assistance to empower people with disabilities because all people – regardless of ability level – should live and work in the community with dignity, choice and self-determination.

For more information please visit our website: www.comop.org and to follow along with the ComOpCares campaign, search #ComOpCares on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.