100,000 Orchid Challenge

Westerlay Donates Orchids to Bring Joy During COVID-19

When the news of the pandemic emerged, our owner and president, Toine Overgaag, knew that he had some important decisions to make in order to keep his business afloat. Mother’s Day, the floral industry’s largest holiday, was just around the corner and it was time for him and the team to get creative with our increased holiday inventory and community needs at the time.

That’s when Toine decided to launch the Box of Orchids platform which would allow Westerlay to send wholesale boxes of beautiful blooms to those in need. Toine wanted first and foremost to show his appreciation to the community and surrounding health care and front-line workers, and so he was determined to send 100,000 orchids to nurses, doctors, and other hospital staff in California. Thus, Westerlay Orchids announced the “100,000 Orchid Challenge” to uplift and inspire communities throughout California by sending orchids to front line workers and those isolated in quarantine.

Starting locally, Westerlay Orchids shipped to several major Los Angeles hospitals within the first week. In the weeks to follow, truckloads of orchids left the greenhouse for hospitals, schools, churches, and other non-profits all over California and neighboring states. Every orchid has a story. Thank you for letting Westerlay Orchids be a part of yours.

Thank you to our partners!