Dorothy Harms showed up early to get her flowers. It was a way for her to give back to the many friends that have helped her through a tough divorce.

The 12 brightly colored yellow, red, orange and purple carnations were free, with one stipulation - keep one for yourself and give the rest away.

“I could give them all away,” she said, nodding toward the 800 flowers that Sherry Zimmerman and her parents Bob and Dorcas Pella, owners of The Flower Shop in Indian Creek Mall, had ready for the annual FTD Good Neighbor Day. Dorothy came back later in the afternoon for another dozen.

“She was having so much fun, I told her to take another bunch,” Zimmerman said.

The event is a way to spread goodwill throughout the community, Zimmerman said. “You give a person the world when you give them a flower.”

Everyone who came into the store was welcome to the flowers, but The Flower Shop asked those that could to give something in return - two items to be donated to the Salvation Army Food Bank.

A grocery cart used to collect the donations was overflowing at the end of the day, and cash donations were also made.

“It helps the community in two ways. It brings goodwill to the people in town and helps out people in need,” Zimmerman said.