Some acts of kindness begin quietly, with one bouquet, one thoughtful delivery, one person choosing to see someone else's pain. For the Charlotte nonprofit Watch Love Grow, that gesture has grown into a movement of remembrance, compassion and community.
Founded by Ashley Manning, Watch Love Grow began in 2021 as a Valentine's Day outreach for widows. What started with about 125 recipients has grown into a nonprofit serving thousands, including widows, widowers and grieving mothers, with flowers, gifts and reminders that their loved ones are not forgotten.
The heavy days
At the heart of the mission is a tender idea: certain days feel especially heavy after loss. Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, filled with celebration for many, can be deeply painful for someone grieving a spouse or a child. Watch Love Grow steps into those moments with deliveries that carry a message: you are seen, you are loved and your grief matters.
The work is communal. Volunteers gather to prepare bouquets, gift bags and deliveries. For 2026, the organization planned to deliver 2,000 bouquets and gift bags on Valentine's Day with around 1,500 volunteers helping.
It has also expanded to bereaved mothers, with a Mother's Day outreach for women who have lost a child. This year the nonprofit planned to deliver flowers and gifts to 700 grieving mothers in the Charlotte area.
The luncheon
On April 24, Stroll Quail Hollow and Stroll Providence attended the Watch Love Grow Stories that Inspire luncheon at Carmel Country Club. Lauren Solomon, national sales director for Stanley1913, gave the keynote, sharing how she helped turn a single product into a cultural phenomenon. The gathering was a chance to share stories, reconnect and be inspired.
What makes Watch Love Grow different is not only the flowers but the meaning behind them. Each delivery says: your love story still matters, your child is remembered, your loss has not gone unnoticed. In a world that moves quickly past grief, the organization pauses, remembers and shows up.
This story appears in the June 2026 issue of Stroll Quail Hollow.