Caitlin Hawksley’s Blooming Impact on Food Insecurity
Caitlin Hawksley’s garden is more than just a place for flowers to grow—it’s a symbol of resilience, generosity, and community spirit. In her first summer back at her home after losing it in the devastating Marshall Fire, Caitlin found herself surrounded by an unexpected abundance of blooms. “I started the flowers from seed in the spring, and before I knew it, I had more than I could give away,” Caitlin explained. Most of the summer, she had been sharing her garden’s bounty with friends and neighbors. But when it came time to clear out her garden for some landscaping work, she couldn’t bear the thought of wasting the beautiful blooms she had nurtured. But Caitlin didn’t just want to give them away; she wanted to give back.
Inspired by the kindness and generosity she received in the aftermath of the fire, Caitlin decided to turn her extra flowers into a unique opportunity for community support. “After the Marshall Fire, we received so much from people we didn’t know. It was hard to receive so much, and I just wanted to give back,” she recalls. So, with a little creativity and a lot of heart, Caitlin came up with the idea to offer mini flower bouquets in exchange for donations to Community Food Share.
Using empty spice jars she had on hand, Caitlin arranged about 40 little bouquets and posted her idea in a local Facebook group. The response was overwhelming. “People just kept coming and dropping off food,” she said, still amazed at the generosity she encountered. What started as a simple way to clear her garden turned into a community-wide event. “There were cars all weekend,” she recalled, smiling. “People came from all over, not just nearby.”
The idea to donate to Community Food Share wasn’t entirely her own. Another neighbor had sent out an email earlier in the summer asking for food donations for the organization. Caitlin initially planned to contribute to her neighbor’s effort but decided to make her own contribution larger when she saw how much interest her flower drive garnered. “Food insecurity is something I care about,” she said. “Everybody needs to eat, and everybody deserves to eat.”
Caitlin’s creative approach has even inspired others. A former neighbor now living in Salida reached out, expressing a desire to host a similar event next year. Caitlin was more than happy to share her tips. “It’s been really sweet to see the impact this little idea had,” she reflected.
When asked what advice she would give to others looking to make a difference, Caitlin encouraged people to trust their instincts. “Everyone has a gift to give,” she said. “If you have a voice inside you with a wild idea, listen to it. Doing this for my community has felt so good for my soul.”
The simple act of offering flowers in exchange for food donations turned out to be much more than a practical way to share her garden’s abundance—it became a way to remind her neighbors that food insecurity is always a pressing issue, regardless of the season. “So many people thanked me for reminding them that our neighbors need help,” she said, hoping her story will inspire others to take action in their own ways.
As for the future, Caitlin is already thinking of new ways to give back. “This has been so easy to do for my community, and it makes me so happy that I was able to inspire others,” she said with a smile. “I’m excited to find other ways to support Community Food Share.”
