Yellow Daffodil Stores Help Wood Services Clients Thrive

The Yellow Daffodil program has been going strong for 50 years as a part of the Langhorne-based Woods Services.

The organization began as a club inside Wood Services to include clients and teach them about gardening. The founder of the organization, Molly Woods, had planted a huge field of yellow daffodils. One day when the club was at the field, someone came up with the name and it stuck.

Now, the Yellow Daffodil organization is a business run largely by the clients of Woods. They construct floral arrangements, fashion various crafts by hand and so much more.

And Yellow Daffodil isn’t a hobby for Woods Service Clients.

There is a kiosk in the Oxford Valley Mall, a store at Pine Watson in Langhorne Borough and another store on Woods’ campus.

All the locations employ clients with physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities.

“Some of the clients help to design and assemble the floral arrangements,” said Cheryl Kauffman, the vice president of communication and public relations at Woods Services. Other than the flowers, some of the clients are cashiers, do maintenance and anything else to keep the store open, she added.

By working in the stores, the individuals practice skills and learn ways that they can work in real world environments.

The organization also has a strong following and support system in the community.

“Everything we make that is handmade. We really can’t keep on the shelves,” said Ginny Page, the store manager for the Yellow Daffodil store on the Woods Services campus.

Page used to own a floral shop in Philadelphia and joined Yellow Daffodil about eight months ago. Working for Woods Services and running the flower and craft shop has been the most gratifying experience Page said she has had in her career.

“I have done this forever, and this is the best experience I have ever had,” Page said.

She added that the Woods clients she works with have tremendous drive and want to make a difference in the store. Many clients enjoy earning the paycheck, of course, but they also receive tremendous self esteem boosts and are able to realize personal and creative goals.

“There isn’t anyone here who I judge by what they cannot do,” she said. “I see what they are able to do.”

One of those passionate clients Page works with is Don. Don has been with Yellow Daffodil for three years. In that time, his talent has shown itself. He can do any craft project Page puts in front of him and even takes a role in floral arrangements. His favorite thing to do are working on staining projects.

“I really have the entire arsenal of Woods behind me,” Page explained, adding that Wood Services has supported the group and its various undertakings.

Work is currently underway to expand the work room at the on-campus location.

“I think the greatest gift for me has been that there is no pretense,” Page said.

There are no expectations for where the business will go, but it continues to bloom, just like the working clients’ happiness.