Flowers to The People, an all-volunteer collective of gardeners growing flowers in Roslindale and Jamaica Plain, just gave away their 500th bouquet. Over the past 3 years, they’ve been growing and arranging flowers, and giving them to passersby on the streets of Boston. They reached their latest milestone on Boston Common this past Saturday.
“It’s really important to share moments of joy and beauty with our community and support immigrant families when they’re under attack,” said Benji Mauer, a Flowers to The People volunteer.
The group of about a dozen volunteers has given away free bouquets in Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Roslindale, and downtown on sidewalks, in parks, and at transit stops. They grow a variety of flowers – from dahlias and zinnias in the summer to ranunculus and anemones in the spring.
With each bouquet, they include information about the Beyond Bond & Legal Defense Fund, a volunteer-run fund that supports detained immigrants in the Boston and Rhode Island area. When people ask how they can give back, they suggest donating to the fund. Immigration bonds are typically $5,000 to $10,000; demand has increased dramatically in 2026, and the fund has been depleted in recent months to support immigrant families. Every donation makes a material impact.
“This project is so uplifting – just saying hello and making people smile,” says Helen Matthews, a volunteer.
“But on a deeper level it’s a kind of cultural intervention – we’re trying to break through the wall of numbness and inaction that makes systemic violence possible. We hope we’re helping people connect with the land and other people, and to experience joy instead of fear in public life,” Matthews said.
The group plans to continue bouquet give-aways this year until the frost arrives, then grow even more free flowers next year. Find Flowers to The People online at flowerstothepeople.org to donate to the Beyond Bond Fund or learn more.
Flowers to The People sows seeds of social justice by growing and giving away free flowers. Find them at flowerstothepeople.org and on Instagram, @flowerstothepeoplebos.
