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There are only a few places in the city selling annuals, perennials, and houseplants, so Vicente’s wonderful operation immediately caught my eye when I drove past his colorful open-air shop at 49 West Strawberry Street. I was delighted to find that the man behind the flowers is compassionate, hospitable, and determined to make this world a better place for his neighbors – both for those in Lancaster City and others around the globe.
Vicente moved to Lancaster County from Honduras in 1973, and he’s lived in the city for several years now. His small garden center actually exists to support Careforce, a nonprofit that supplies materials for humanitarian relief projects. Vicente himself is a Primerica Financial representative and completely volunteers his time. Since 1998, Careforce has sent 55 shipping containers of supplies like food, clothing, toys, and construction materials to war- and disaster-torn communities in El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Kosovo and Ghana. The organization responded to 9-11 by sending much-needed drinking water, Power bars, and sanitizer wipes to aid workers as they searched for survivors at the Pentagon. Careforce has also helped build 49 homes for Honduran victims of Hurricane Mitch. In fact, it was this 1998 hurricane that first sparked Vicente’s call to action.
“This all started while I was sitting in front of the TV,” he explains. While watching images of Hurricane Mitch’s impact on his home country, he was devastated to realize that the infrastructural damage would put Honduras 30 years behind in terms of development. Vicente says, “When I saw this disaster happen, I realized that all material things can be destroyed in an instant…My whole perception of life changed. I thought, ‘I have been blessed immensely in my life. Now it’s time for me to give something back.’”
Careforce serves as a connector between individuals with goods to donate and local doctors, missionaries and community leaders who distribute donations in-country to those with the greatest need. In 11 years, Vicente and his volunteers have seen some pretty incredible things happen. “For the first 8 years, we operated without a checking account. If we needed money, somebody would provide it, just in time, right before a shipping deadline…We operate pretty much on faith.” And it looks like faith has been enough.
So why an urban garden center? “It’s such a weird thing,” he says, “…I love plants!” Most of the shop’s plants are generously donated by Esbenshade’s Nursery in Ephrata. “It’s fascinating, what’s been happening. We never even asked them for it. They just heard about what we were doing and wanted to help.” All proceeds go toward covering the cost of shipping donations.
The Careforce shop has also become a bright spot for the community. Many of Vicente’s customers are women from the city who don’t have cars to travel to nurseries for flowers for their gardens. People even stop to thank him for making his home – and thus, the neighborhood – more attractive. “If people do their part to keep their places beautiful and clean, others will follow their example, and we’ll have a beautiful city,” he promises.
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This fall, stop by mums, foliage plants, and pumpkins donated from local farmers. Vicente also does flower arrangements, landscaping, and window boxes for local businesses, and he’s always happy to visit your backyard to give you ideas. You still have time to get perennials in before the frost. The shop will close in late October when Vicente heads to Guatemala for a medical mission project. Ring the house bell if no one’s in the shop.
Careforce Needs: Volunteers to develop a website or sort and package donations, and in-kind and cash donations for relief shipments. Stop by the shop or call Vicente at 717.330.4503.
1 Comment so far
One Response to “Love Your Neighbor. Plant Something.”
12:23 pm on September 17th, 2009
I’m so glad you profile him — I drive past this gentleman’s home several times a week, and wondered who cared for all that beauty — thanks to you, and thanks to Vicente as well.