Blooms for Diabetes Education announced for second year

Last fall, (then) 17-year-old Marissa Foels approached the WMC Foundation with an idea to raise money for youth with diabetes. She had recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and wanted to help others.

Marissa, whose family owns The County Garden Flowers and Gifts in Decorah, partnered with Morgan Moen and the pair created "Blooms for Diabetes Education." In 2017, they raised $1,100, which was gifted to youth to cover the tuition for Camp Hertko Hollow, a camp for kids with diabetes.

This year's Blooms for Diabetes Education program works through the purchase of a $20 punch card from The County Garden Flowers and Gifts, the Winneshiek Medical Center Foundation Office or the WMC Gift Shop. Punch cards must be purchased by December 31st. $10 from each punch card is donated to the WMC Foundation for Camp Hertko Hollow scholarships, while the remaining $10 entitles the punch card holder to a few fresh flower stems each month from The Country Garden Flowers and Gifts.