Did you know that the flower baskets that hang on the lampposts in downtown Barrington are funded by private donations? 

Flower Power, Inc. is the non-profit organization behind the flowers that adorn the lampposts lining County Road. Money that supports the flowers and their care comes from contributions from local donors. 

In celebration of its 25-year anniversary this year, a generous donor has offered $25,000 in matching funds to ensure that this beautification project will go on for years to come. 

Started in 2000, a group of local volunteers saw the new lampposts as an opportunity to beautify Barrington. Kim Anderson, a business owner in town and a co-founder of the organization, had seen hanging flower baskets in other communities and began to look for resources from our community. 

In the early years, Anderson and a group volunteers organized fund-raisers. They reached out to neighborhoods to create an "Adopt A Pole" effort. That was followed for several years with a Baskets for Barrington fund-raiser, where neighborhoods created themed baskets that were then auctioned off at Barrington Yacht Club. The efforts raised more than $100,000 for initial funding, which has been utilized to support the flower baskets since then, along with the money that community members donate each year with the organization’s pink flyer sent to every household in town. 

The flowers are grown and transplanted into the hanging baskets by Four Town Farm every spring and they are hung on the town’s lampposts the week before Memorial Day. 

A company is paid to water the baskets every morning. The cost of purchasing the flowers and hiring the company to water them daily uses more funds than are donated annually. 

Knowing this fact, a donor has reached out to support this annual effort with matching funds.

“We are grateful for these matching funds to ensure this project can continue for the next 25 years, and to everyone who donates annually. This year, especially, we need the community’s support to keep County Road beautiful and hope that all the residents will contribute something to help us reach the maximum match of $25,000,” said Anderson.

Flower Power, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization which means that all donations are tax deductible. Checks can be sent to Flower Power, Inc. at PO Box 205, Barrington, RI 02806.