Happy New Year Dear Hearts! 

I hope this finds you strong. I recognize it may find you feeling vulnerable (or more likely a mix of the two). If that’s the case, I hope light finds its way into the cracks. January has been a time of hope in my life for the past 9 years because it’s when I turn my attention to the Valentine Community Project.

2021 is year 9 of this stone soup effort to make Valentine’s day a little brighter for survivors of domestic abuse in NYC shelters. One of the many troubling realities of 2020 was a rise in domestic abuse and trafficking. So much this year is different,  but the need for hope in times despair remains, as does our ability to band together as a community and share our gifts and so, this little project continues! Among the many things I am thankful for daily is a safe & loving environment. This blessing is the fruit of a confluence of factors including luck, choices & the active involvement of communities who have loved, rooted for & protected me. It is hard to overstate the impact of the last factor on the first two. 

Lots of people don't like Valentine's day. I imagine being in a shelter would make this day particularly rough. Our goal is to let our Valentines at the shelters know there are people rooting for them & believing they are deserving of love. We do this by assembling little bags of necessities & small luxuries for Valentine's Day.  

In 2020 we made up 406 bags which were distributed to all 8 NYC shelters operated by Safe Horizon; 2 Sanctuary for Families shelters in NYC; My Sisters’ Place in Yonkers; & the Elizabeth Freedman Center in the Berkshires. We’re shooting for 500 this year but because what we give depends upon what comes in we may end up being smaller this year - we’ll play it by ear. Check out last year’s gifts here.

No worries AT ALL if this project isn't for you, but if it resonates click PARTICIPATE to see how to get involved including: Donating Stuff, Donating Money, Praying, Making Valentines, Being a cupid & Spreading the Word about the Valentine Community Project. This project has grown from giving gifts to 17 Valentines in 2012 to over 400 Valentines in 2020 because the Valentine Community across the country has invited their own communities in to celebrate this feast of love in a most heartwarming way. The group’s vision is far greater than mine. We welcome your ideas and connections to better serve our valentines.

Each year I am humbled by the the outpouring of generosity that makes this project possible. Thank you most sincerely.

Peace,
Emily Valentine Sottile