September is National Suicide Prevention Month and for a fifth year, Green Mountain Floral Supply will be a “Hope” level sponsor and participant in the Burlington, Vermont chapter of the Out of the Darkness Community Walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).
AFSP is a national organization dedicated to preventing suicide and providing support for those affected by it. Through research, education, and advocacy, AFSP aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and improve access to critical support, both for the individual suffering from this disease and their loved ones who support them. This 5K walk takes place on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Veteran’s Memorial Park Pavilion, South Burlington and we invite you to join us.
Our connection with AFSP is a personal one and began on a fall Sunday when we received a shocking call announcing our close friend, Scott Weinheimer, had taken his life. Scott left behind his lovely wife, and our dear friend, Kathleen and their four children. Like many stories of suicide, Scott was the last person we would have expected to take his life.
Just one year before his death, we had the pleasure of attending the wedding of Scott and Kathleen’s daughter, Meghan. We bore witness to their joyful celebration of Meghan’s marriage to Tom and their extension of love as they welcomed him into their family. There is one particularly poignant photograph of Scott, captured by the wedding photographer during the ceremony. In it, Scott and Kathleen are lovingly watching the exchange of the wedding vows. The photographer, using a shallow depth of field technique, has placed Scott in the foreground of the image, while Kathleen, sitting next to him, is softer, slightly blurred, and appears off in the distance. With Scott in such sharp focus, the joy and pride emanating from his eyes is palpable. Five years have passed since Scott took his life and when this image comes to mind, it still tugs at my heart.
Kim Jennings
Co-owner, Green Mountain Floral SupplyAt Green Mountain Floral Supply, our Blooming with Purpose initiative is rooted in strengthening both communities and lives. Mental health is one of the causes we rally around, and by supporting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Walk, we are committed to honoring the legacy of our friend Scott Weinheimer and supporting his family. It is not lost on us that the core product of our industry — flowers — are proven to have positive mental health benefits. As Lady Bird Johnson so eloquently stated, “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.”
Please join us at this important walk by emailing me at: . Together, we can help break the silence, reduce stigma, and remind everyone that support is just a conversation — or a call — away.
