The Good Works of John Flowers Live On (Aired on March 23 and 24, 2019)

John Flowers was one of the most important community organizers in recent
years in Poughkeepsie. In this interview, his son Frankie Flowers tells some of
the history of his father’s charities and describes how he and his sister Yvonne, a
Council representative in the city, are continuing his legacy. It started 25 years
ago when John Flowers observed a lonely and unhappy woman in Vassar
Hospital. He decided to cheer her up—and also the other patients—with stuffed
animals. Somehow this original charitable impulse, which has been repeated
every Christmas since, inspired other holiday celebrations—an Easter egg hunt,
roses for Mother’s Day, a march on Father’s Day, a picnic for Labor Day, and
(with the help of Eileen and Dan Hickey) dinners at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
All of this, as well as “Christmas in February for Veterans, is accomplished by
dedicated volunteers, known as John’s “Band of Elves.”

Learn more:
John Flowers Community Events on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnflowerscommunity/
John Flowers Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/poughkeepsiejournal/obituary.aspx%3Fn=john-flowers%26pid=175641649%26fhid=27389
Liberty Medal for Flowers: https://trackbill.com/bill/new-york-senate-legislative-resolution-3988-honoring-john-m-flowers-posthumously-as-recipient-of-a-liberty-medal-the-highest-honor-bestowed-upon-an-individual-by-the-new-york-state-senate/1272903/

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April 7, 2019 · Posted in Children, Humanitarian Service, Volunteers