As Ohioans come out of a long pandemic winter we begin to hope, heal and help one another. 

This mindset is reflected in the Hope Blooms Ohio project, a charitable initiative designed by Greg Perry’s Excel TECC marketing program.

The program has created an installation of inflatable flowers to help spread hope and raise money for the Cleveland Food Bank.

“The community has really embraced the message of our campaign and have been very gracious in supporting the Greater Cleveland Food Bank,” Perry wrote in an email.

The project kicked off with a presentation March 12 at Public Square in downtown Cleveland.

The temporary display will soon be set up at Mayfield High School, where it is being moved after being displayed at BHS for the past week. After Mayfield it will travel to Chagrin Falls, Cuyahoga Falls, Lakewood and ultimately return to downtown Cleveland from April 22-29. 

Normally marketing students raise money through a business expo and spend some of the proceeds on a trip, but when the pandemic hit last year, they donated the money they had raised. 

This year’s students were inspired to do something similar, and the class came up with the idea that is now Hope Blooms Ohio. 

“Anyone who’s watched the news has seen the lines of cars and cars and cars going to the food bank… so we are just trying to do what we can to help out people who need help,” senior Paige Wong said.

The colorful inflatable flowers and yard signs spread awareness of the project’s mission. The inflatable flowers are made by an Ohio company called Inflatable Images. 

The marketing class also distributes yard signs with positive messages at each location, sells a variety of apparel and also accepts donations, all of which go to the Cleveland Food Bank. 

The project goal is to raise $40,000, with each dollar providing four meals to Food Bank clients. The program has met over half of their goal already.

The students have worked hard on this program in fundraising, unloading boxes, coming up with the logo and the idea.

“Marketing is a hands-on class,” Perry wrote in an email. “My favorite part has been engaging the students in a meaningful project through which I can teach marketing, and the students can make a difference.” 

Visit the project’s website to donate.