Smith’s Florist and Gift Shoppe, Gloucester, in partnership with Helping the Homeless will “Petal it Forward” next week.

On Wednesday, Oct. 20, wrapped bouquets will be given to the first 100 people who stop by the Main Street shop and drop off one or more food items currently needed by Helping the Homeless in Gloucester and Mathews counties.

“It is our wish to bring flowers to the people of Gloucester to help brighten up their week as part of the ‘Petal it Forward program developed by the Society of American Florists,” said Michael Richardson of Smith’s Florist and Gift Shoppe.Research from Rutgers, Harvard and Texas A&M have found that flowers have an immediate impact on happiness and a long-term positive effect on moods.

“We see the positive impact day in and day out when people walk into our shop, and when we make our flower deliveries,” Richardson said. “People love to get flowers ‘just because,’ so we want to provide a small wrapped bouquet in exchange for a donatio...