Lori’s Gifts Store #397 at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine, is proud to support the hospital’s Stems for Smiles initiative — a heartwarming program spreading kindness and comfort throughout the facility.
Through this initiative, nursing staff have the opportunity to surprise patients with a fresh flower and a handwritten note — not as part of their care routine, but as a thoughtful gesture to simply make them smile. For patients who may be alone, have had lengthy hospital stays, or don’t receive many visitors, these small moments of compassion can make a world of difference.
Beyond patient rooms, Stems for Smiles has also become a beautiful way for staff to recognize and appreciate one another. Team members can send flowers with a note of gratitude or encouragement, creating a ripple effect of positivity throughout the hospital.
“This initiative has allowed our staff to connect with patients and with one another in such a meaningful way,” said Stacey Coventry, Director of Community Engagement. “We’ve seen firsthand how a single stem can bring a smile, a moment of comfort, or even a sense of hope — and that’s what our work is all about.”
Lori’s Gifts is honored to help this initiative flourish. Through generous flower donations and participation in the store’s round-up program, Lori’s Gifts helps sustain Stems for Smiles without requiring a hospital budget.
“We are supplying Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center with carnations for their volunteer services department,” said Lisa Field, Store Manager of Lori’s Gifts. “They are giving a carnation to every patient and employee who may be in need of a smile. Some of the patients are here for weeks on end with no visitors, and this gesture of giving them a carnation brings such a wonderful smile during a difficult time. We all need a smile at some point in time. I am honored to work for this company that cares about people the way they do.”
Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center extends its heartfelt thanks to Lori’s Gifts for generous flower donations and for including the initiative in the store’s round-up program, which helps sustain the effort without requiring a hospital budget.
Stems for Smiles began as a creative idea from the hospital’s student volunteers, who wanted to make a difference in a personal and compassionate way. Their enthusiasm and dedication have truly taken root — proving that kindness grows best when it’s shared, one smile at a time.
