ABOUT
Who We Are
We are Connection Creators, Happiness Helpers, Smile Producers, and Joy Generators.
Joy Petalers is a small volunteer-driven non-profit serving the St. Louis region. Our mission is to cultivate joy by upcycling, arranging, and delivering donated flowers to people facing illness or isolation and to people dedicated to public service in support of our community. Through handcrafted bouquets and personal connection, we help reduce loneliness and show appreciation by creating beauty from what would otherwise be discarded.


Our Story
Joy Petalers was founded in October 2024 and has seen rapid growth due to a mission that resonates deeply with volunteers, donors, floral partners, and recipient organizations. What began as roughly 200 bouquets per month has grown into a community effort now creating and delivering more than 2,000 bouquets in a single month.
Joy Petalers was inspired by a simple but powerful idea: flowers can have a second life.
That second life can bring comfort to a cancer patient, encouragement to a teacher, joy to a nursing home resident, or gratitude to a caregiver.
Mission
Joy Petalers cultivates joy by upcycling, arranging, and delivering donated flowers to the most vulnerable in the St. Louis community. Our Floristas share their creativity by delivering bouquets to hospitals, senior care communities, hospices, shelters, schools, and individuals who serve our community, helping reduce isolation and show appreciation through flowers and personal connection.
Values
Compassion | Creativity | Respect | Hope | Connection
What Makes Joy Petalers Unique
Human impact
Flowers create immediate joy and meaningful connection.
Environmental impact
We upcycle flowers and reuse vases, giving beauty a second life.
Community impact
We bring together volunteers, floral partners, and recipient organizations in shared acts of kindness

Flowers and our Mental Health
Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness, and recipients have genuine, joyful smiles upon receiving flowers, demonstrating extraordinary delight and gratitude. This occurs across all age groups.
Flowers also have a long-term positive effect on mood. Recipients report feeling less depressed, anxious, and agitated after receiving flowers, along with a greater sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction.
Flowers help create intimate connections, as their presence encourages increased interaction with family and friends.
Leadership
Executive Team

Colleen O’Neill
Co-Founder & Executive Director
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Patricia Morningstar
Co-Founder
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Linda Hekeila
Chief Blooms Officer
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Kim Willis
Administration and Data Manager
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Ann Shields
Volunteer Manager
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Amber Willis
Operations Manager
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Board of Directors
Katy Jochum
President
Tony Genovese
Board Member
Paul LaVigne
Board Member - Vice-President
Greg Lukeman
Board Member
Ann Shields
Board Member - Secretary

