Why do we send flowers when we can send something truly necessary to a person who has lost someone they love?

In the days after my beloved father died, my apartment was filled with flowers and Edible Arrangements which I subsequently watched rot, (both the flowers and the fruit). While I appreciated the sentiments from my family and friends and coworkers, throwing out dead flowers and trapping the fruit flies was more work for me. All I felt like doing was crawling into bed and letting the whole house fall apart but I couldn’t; I had two young children to care for.

Instead of all the money people spent on flowers and Edible Arrangements, what I really needed was someone to come clean my house, or a DoorDash gift card so my kids and I didn’t have to cook and clean up. (In the new world of food allergies and dietary restrictions, the days of bringing casseroles over are over).

What I know to be true is when someone close to you dies, people want to help but they don’t know what you need. On the other hand, the grieving need help but asking is hard, even on your best day, let alone during the worst time of your life.

One of the reasons we created Ripple is to solve this. Our goal is to help you get practical things in the days, weeks and months after a loss. This can be anything from childcare to a therapist to even yes, a blow out. (Showering and washing your hair can become a chore when you are in acute grief).

If RIPPLE had existed when my father passed, it would have been so much better. Maybe not for the fruit flies, but to me.