Hi, my name is Elizabeth Ferraro — founder of Bloom After Foundation.
And believe it or not, I am not a widow, nor have I ever been one. But I do believe deeply in the foundational truth of James 1:27 — that we are called to care for widows and orphans in their distress.
Over the years, God has consistently placed widows and widowers in my path. The first person who truly impacted my heart was a neighbor who had recently and unexpectedly lost her husband. When my husband, Justin, and I moved in next door, we began building a relationship with her — supporting her through conversations about what widowhood had brought into her life.
During one of those conversations, she shared something I have never forgotten. She said that family and friends were often very present for the major holidays — Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving — but one holiday many people tended to forget was Valentine's Day. She explained just how lonely that day felt for her.
When she said those words, they hit me in the gut.
From that moment on, Justin and I promised to be her Valentine. Even though we are no longer neighbors, we have continued that tradition for more than 10 years.
At first, sending flowers was something I did quietly. I never needed attention for it, and even though I'm pretty sure she knew they were from me, it was simply an act of love. But over time, God continued placing more widows and widowers in my life. The list kept growing, and so did the calling.
After sending more than 30 floral arrangements on one of the most expensive flower-giving holidays of the year, Justin — my husband of 15 years — encouraged me to take the next step and start a foundation.
Bloom After Foundation was born from that calling.
Our hope is that this foundation will eventually grow into more than flowers. But for now, this is where God has us: sending love, remembrance, and encouragement to widows and widowers on a day that can feel especially lonely.
Through each arrangement, our prayer is simple — that the recipient feels seen, remembered, valued, and loved.