Vaseful in Princeton celebrates first anniversary of providing employment for people with disabilities

Vaseful Flower and Gifts in Princeton recently celebrated its one year anniversary.

Vaseful is a nonprofit flower store operated by Community Options Enterprises that provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Vaseful employees with and without disabilities work side by side to learn valuable retail, floral arrangement and customer service skills, according to Community Options.

“The Vaseful in Princeton has been such a wonderful innovative addition to Community Options and the 12 individuals that have been employed by it,” said Geraldina Casalaspro, managing director of Community Options Enterprises.

The Vaseful staff typically work three-hour shifts and rotate responsibilities, ranging from customer service at the front desk to delivering flowers in the community. Many of the skills they acquire are used to help them pursue competitive employment opportunities in other fields.

Vaseful was opened through a generous contribution from Community Options Enterprises Chair Philip Lian and his wife Joan Mueller. In 2019, the store opened with a ribbon cutting celebration attended by New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney and Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert.

“We are grateful to be celebrating Vaseful’s one year anniversary in Princeton,” Mayor Liz Lempert said. “This flower shop helps to provide opportunity for meaningful work and helps create a true sense of community.”

This is the second Vaseful operated by Community Options Enterprises. Since first opening in New Brunswick in 1999, Vaseful has been offering high quality floral services and delivery through a nationwide network, according to Community Options.

The original location has since moved to Edison and is a self-sustaining social enterprise. Both Vaseful stores service weddings and other special occasions throughout the year.