You may have seen a strange shop assignment enter your email inbox recently. Likely you did a double-take as you read the shop details. Yes, this “shop” requires you to actually visit a specific gravesite and perform maintenance. While this may sound like a strange way to make a few extra bucks, you can rest assured that you have accomplished a good deed for the day. In addition to padding your wallet with some extra cash, you are also helping a family ensure that the final resting place of their loved one is well cared for and clean, even when the family is too far way to do it themselves.
What Are The Details? As with other kinds of shops, the details of a gravesite shop may vary from shop to shop. However, generally speaking, you will be given the name of the deceased as well as the cemetery in which to locate the gravesite. It will be your job to first locate the gravesite within that cemetery, using the resources available at the cemetery. Then, the shop requirements may ask that you ensure the gravesite is well cared for by performing small maintenance items such as pulling weeds and such.
Your job may also be to deliver flowers to the gravesite on behalf of the distant family members. You may be required to purchases these flowers yourself with the funds reimbursed to you with your shop pay, or the flowers may be shipped directly to your house on the day you are to perform the shop.
To ensure the shop has been completed, you will be asked to take several photos of the gravesite. The photos should show that you have located the correct gravesite, any flowers have been placed in front of the gravesite, and proper maintenance of the gravesite has taken place. So you will typically need a digital camera to complete a gravesite shop.
What’s In It For You? This type of shop may pay slightly better than your typical shop. And, in many cases, a cemetery may be located off the beaten path and you may be able to request travel pay if it is not already provided. So while the type of shop itself may seem like a depressing way to spend your day, it may be financially rewarding.
In addition to financial compensation, though, you may find a graveyard shop has more personal satisfaction in it than your normal shop. In most cases, the person ordering the shop is a distant family member of the deceased, someone who cared about the deceased immensely but is too far away from the gravesite to ensure regular maintenance is being performed. By performing this shop, you are giving that person the knowledge that their beloved family member is being cared for even in death.
Your first impulse on receiving this type of shop in your inbox may be to instantly pass on it. It is, after all, an unusual request. However, give the shop a second thought and you may just find that it will be both financially and personally rewarding to you.
I have yet to see any of these shops. You wouldn’t happen to know who the scheduling companies are or who to register with would you. Let me know if you do.
Thanks
I have seen this assignment come up in my area a few different times but was going to be away when they needed it done. The company that I saw these assignments; Intellishop. When you log on they have the information right below you password. I would definitely do these jobs. Some families live out of state and do not get to visist the gravesite often. This assures them that the area is kept clean, flowers are delivered; it makes them feel at peace.
I have seen mention of this type of shop in forum groups. As my family members are all buried in another state, I can see the need for this type of service. I have tried finding companies that assign gravesite visits so I might do them but have been unable to do so. As mentioned in the article, I do believe this type of shop can bring personal satisfaction as you are helping someone keep peace of mind.
I would be interested in who to register for these types of shops as well. What an awesome opportunity this would be. But, I have not gotten any of these shops in my mailbox either.
I have tried to snag this shop many times for the exact reasons that you stated.
It does pay more than the usual shop and I figured out that since it was a Military gravesite shop that the family/relatives have moved to another state but still have the loved ones on their minds.
I have yet to get one of shops but I am going to keep trying. After all, if I can help a family of a someone who lost their life for the USA, I will.
I am interested in doing these types of shops an would like to know how to get started.
I am very interested in finding out more about the gravesite shopping. Please send more info and where to register.
Thank you.
Please inform me of the information about the websites to sign up with, I haven’t reeiced any emails of this sort yet. I would love to do a good deed for someone that lives out of state. This would be so awesome.
sure I’m game I like doing research
My sentiments are the same as everyone elses.
I would love to participate in one of these shops in my area. My family spends once a year doing this same type of thing for our family members. It would be very gratifing to do the same for another family
I would love to do this!
I would love to go and do a shop like this. I would particpate in a shop in my area. I am from St. Louis. It doesn’t bother me.
I love yard work.
I would love to do this for a family not able to do it for their love one.
Where do you sign up!! I’m interested!!
Are these also available in Canada, particularily British Columbia?
Thanks!
I found this on a site about gravescape.
Gravescape has made deliveries to Long Beach, Calif.; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Boston, and rural communities in Tennessee.
The firm employs a handful of people full-time, and uses private contractors for other services, including proofreading reports sent to customers.
Jenny Stromann, spokesman for the 12,000-member Society of American Florists, could cite no firm exactly like Gravescape.
But florists deliver to cemeteries, she said. And members of national networks, such as the FTD Group Inc., would likely take photos if asked, she added.
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080126/BUSINESS03/801260374/-1/BUSINESS
I love to visit graveyards and would like to put flowers on the grave in memory of a loved one for someone who can’t go there due to distance. I visited Sleepy Hollow Cemetary in New York and was facinated by the elaborate vaults and the history. I also love the history of the grave yard in Savannah where civil war heroes are buried. I think of it as a walking history lesson. I also learned that stones are placed on Jewish gravesites to show how many people visited rather than placing flowers that will die.
I would love to do it. Both my parents are now gone and there isn’t anyone close by to tend to their place. If I could help someome with that, it would be like caring for my Mom and Dad. But I have never seen one.