Aldi's Heartwarming 'Flower Challenge' Has Fans Talking

Aldi is well known for its low prices on grocery items, as well as a right and wrong way to shop at the budget grocery chain. Fans of the chain love shopping at the store. There's even an Aldi Aisle of Shame Facebook Group, with more than 600,000 members, who post about the latest "Aldi Finds," along with a website, AisleofShame.com, which explains its moniker as a "humorous reference to the center aisle of Aldi with seasonal merchandise that changes from week to week." It's the aisle responsible for all those impulse buys, for better or worse. Well lately, it's inspired a challenge that's spreading smiles, one flower bouquet at a time.

According to a press release shared with Mashed, the challenge is simple. Buy a bouquet of flowers, which can be had for as little as $3.99, and gift it to a random person. Then post about your results in the Aldi Aisle of Shame Facebook Group. According to Stefanie Fleming, founder of the Facebook group and related website, dozens of examples of the Flower Challenge are being posted to the group daily.

Some have used the flower challenge as a way to teach their kids to "pay it forward," with one participant noting the recipient's "smile was so infectious!!" Others have found their unexpected gesture a bright note to someone going through a tough time, or recovering from an illness. And while the flowers bring smiles and joy to their recipients, they also make the person gifting them feel great. As one participant explained after taking part in the flower challenge, "My heart is so full!!! Made my entire day!!!" Several people expressed that they plan on gifting flowers on a regular basis.

And while participants gift flowers with no expectation of anything in return, sometimes the good deed is instantly rewarded. One participant writes, "Long story short ... today at Aldi I gave a fresh flower bouquet to a first time Aldi shopper. She was at the register next to me. In turn, a gentleman in front of me, gave my cashier $25 to put towards my grocery bill for giving away the flowers." We could all use a little more kindness and smiles in the world. More of this, please!