Spirits may have been a little brighter on Wednesday as residents arrived at Flowers by Dave to exchange non-perishable food for flowers. The occasion was made even more special as floral shop owner Dave Webster shared the day with his mother, Marge Saxe of Benton, who celebrated her 88th birthday.

“This is the 12th year we have participated in FTD Good Neighbor Day,” Webster said. “The day is celebrated throughout the United States and Canada and we have thousands of flowers to give away. They will all be gone by noon. This is a very popular event and a good way to make friends and renew acquaintances, while helping your neighbors.

“Residents bring in non-perishable and canned food in exchange for a dozen mixed flowers,” he said. “We could not do this without the assistance of our great sponsors. The food supplies will be delivered to the Benton-West City Ministerial Alliance food pantry. The shelves in the food pantry are getting pretty bare and we hope to help with our donation. We collected 1,500 cans of food last year and would like to at least match that this year.”

Webster said FTD member Brook Jacobs, of Greenbrook Florists in Jackson, Miss., started FTD Good Neighbor Day in 1994.

Gloria Holland of Sesser said she would share her bouquet with Sesser residents.

Jane Redmon of Carterville said she works in Benton and would share her flowers with secretaries in the schools she visits.