Freshman Neha Agarwal has turned a simple craft into a growing service effort by using hand-made paper flower bouquets to support cancer patients and raise money for cancer research.
Agarwal first began making bouquets last October as a gift for her then-boyfriend. When she showed the arrangement to her family, the idea for something larger came about.
The idea resonated especially deeply with her family because Agarwal’s mom, Sarah Agarwal, is a breast cancer survivor.
“We [liked] the idea that I could start selling them and donating them to charity or giving them to hospitals because when patients are in the ER, they can’t have real flowers,”Agarwal said. “So, with paper flowers, it brings a smile on their faces, and so we thought that was a good idea.”
As the project grew, Sarah Agarwal said she noticed how much it was shaping her daughter beyond the craft itself.
“I see this experience shaping Neha because it teaches her how to give back to her community, foster empathy toward others and manage deadlines while following through on her commitments,” Sarah Agarwal said. “I especially love that it allows her to put on her creative hat and transform her creativity into purpose.”
As Agarwal experimented with designs, she developed a detailed process that blends origami techniques with her own creativity. She rolls green paper around wooden skewers to make stems, folds paper into flowers, hot glues each piece together and crafts about six flowers for every bouquet.
“The part I most enjoy is probably [making] the flowers because it’s low-key,” Agarwal said. “It’s the process, and I like putting them all in the vase and seeing how good they look together when they’re the same colors.”
As Agarwal’s work grew, her mom noticed how much care went into each arrangement.
“It’s amazing to see Neha start with a single bouquet and then continue to iterate [it] as she progresses,” Sarah Agarwal said. “Her keen eye for detail makes her bouquets simply beautiful. Each arrangement is a one of a kind.”
That attention to detail eventually led Agarwal to take on her first major charitable project. Last fall, she sold 15 bouquets at the Morningside Farmers Market and donated all proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, raising $500.
“She took the initiative to do this because it was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and because she wanted to help others going through a similar breast cancer journey as mine,” Sarah Agarwal said.
The fundraiser required weeks of preparation, and also pushed her to scale up her work.
“It was either 400 or 500 [dollars] that I donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation,” Agarwal said. “It took me like two weeks [to make them].”
Her bouquets have also made an impression on community members who have received them. Virginia-Highland resident Steve Rosenberg was surprised by the craftsmanship.
“We all thought the flowers were real when we first saw them,” Rosenberg said. “Then when we saw them up close, we were surprised, delighted and amazed by the creativity and accuracy.”
Rosenberg said the bouquet his family received has become a small but meaningful part of their home.
“The bouquet continues to brighten our day every time we pass by it,” Rosenberg said. “And our cat loves it, too. She thinks they’re real and often tries smelling them, rubbing up against them and nibbling on the leaves – just like she does with regular flowers.”
Agarwal said the moments that stay with her are the ones where her bouquets bring comfort to someone facing illness.
“When I made a bouquet for a neighbor to give to her friend who had brain cancer, I think that was really impactful,” Agarwal said. “It shows how it can put a smile on people’s faces and brighten their day, even when they may not be in the best mood.”
Her work has continued to expand through new community partnerships, including a recent collaboration with Piedmont Hospital.
“In addition, she is currently working on donating six bouquets to the Thomas F. Chapman Family Cancer Wellness Center at Piedmont Hospital so they can display them for patients attending classes from March to May,” Sara Agarwal said. “I look forward to seeing how her business evolves, and how she can continue to impact her community with these thoughtful bouquets.”
The work is time consuming, and each flower can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and a half, but Agarwal said the effort is worth it.
“It brings me happiness that other people are happy receiving flowers,”Agarwal said. “Or when I donated money, knowing that it’s going to a good cause and it can help people all over the world.”
