Trireme rose sales benefit a community organization while spreading love and appreciation within Hickman.

Trireme is an all-senior girl club that focuses on community service and fundraising.

“It is a club unique to Hickman that started in [the] 1940 school year because Key Club did not include women originally,” Leia Brooks, Trireme co-sponsor, said.

Every year, the members of Trireme pick a charity to donate their fundraising proceeds. This year, they chose True North.

“True North is a domestic violence shelter [that] holds mostly women who have been victims of rape or domestic violence,” Keelie Kendrick, a Trireme member selling roses, said.

Selling roses on Valentine’s Day is a tradition older than any student in the building, going on for close to 20 years according to Brooks.

“The secretaries do not allow any other deliveries to be accepted, so it is the only delivery that can occur during Valentine’s Day…It’s become a very easy way to see who cares about whom,” Brooks said.

Malayah Banks (10) bought a rose for her friend.

“He bought me so many things so I brought him a rose,” Malayah said.

Zaria Banks (9) also bought her friend a rose to show her gratitude to him.

“[Roses mean] kindness, love, and happiness,” Zaria said.

Keelie thought the roses were a good way to spread love without breaking the bank.

“[The roses] are a cheaper alternative…to buying a $15 bouquet of flowers and it’s just a nice gesture,” Keelie said.

While many might think that buying roses is a romantic gesture, the tradition has shifted toward platonic love.

“It’s really a chance for people to show their friends and the people who are important in their life that they are thinking of them,” Brooks said.