Badges and Bouquets: Officers delivering roses and raising funds for Special Olympics Oklahoma

For floral shops, it is easily their biggest day of the year, which means all hands on deck at Floral and Hardy.

“It’s huge, it’s our number one holiday,” said Shelly Taft with Floral and Hardy

With the demand for Valentine’s Day roses, Floral and Hardy know they have to be ready.

“We ordered thirty-five hundred to start, and they called us today and let us know that there’s more available, so we’ve got backup if we need it,” said Taft.

As the floral shop prepares for the last-minute shoppers and deliveries they are once again excited about the extra help.

“We have troopers, Oklahoma City officers, Moore PD, and Department of Corrections folks,” said Brett House, with the Badges and Bouquets program.

All of them hit the streets—not delivering tickets, but delivering flowers for Special Olympics Oklahoma.

“Raising money and awareness for the 12,000-plus athletes here in the state of Oklahoma. It’s a great cause, and we love the athletes,” House said.

For all deliveries made today and tomorrow, Floral and Hardy will donate the total delivery cost and the tips to Special Olympics Oklahoma.

“Today, we’ll do about 60 to 70. Tomorrow, we are at 100 deliveries first thing in the morning,” Taft said.

Armed with only bouquets of happiness, the officers arrested customers with love.

After eight years of the program, officers and troopers understand the commitment.

“We will start tomorrow at about eight thirty and we have gone until five or six o’clock. On my way home I have delivered flowers in my personal vehicle,” said Taft.

Making last-minute customers happy as well as the special Olympic athletes.