It’s a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States, and often all those flowers you buy for loved ones will end up in the trash after just a few days.  There’s a group working to make those bouquets last longer, while helping local patients in the hospital.

Kellie Doyle from Random Acts of Flowers sat down with CBS4 This Morning to explain her organization’s goals.

“So after every wedding, after every memorial everyone is so sad that they’ve spent this money on these flowers, and it’s all going to be thrown away,” said Doyle.  “Often they can still be good for another 10 days.”

Random Acts of Flowers puts new life into those roses, lilies and carnations.

“Random Acts of Flowers takes away flowers that are normally thrown away after weddings, events, grocery stores anything in the community and re-purposes them to deliver to patients in hospitals,” said Doyle.

The idea stems from a personal experience.

“Our founder and CEO was in a near fatal accident and when he was in the hospital he had an outpouring of support,” explained Doyle.  “He saw people in the hospital did not have that type of support.”

Bo Elder is one of the first volunteers in Indianapolis.

“It was a very compelling message that there are a lot of people in need and how it can lift their spirits,” said Elder.

Random Acts of Flowers already operates in other cities, and the group says it’s more than a sweet idea.  The re-purposed flowers actually improve lives.

“We’ve seen the medical side where there’s actually been improved health,” said Doyle.

Indianapolis will be the fifth market for Random Acts of Flowers.  They’ve already worked out deals with a few local florists and hospitals, but they need volunteers and your donations.