HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
&
HAPPY 10 YEARS OF THE VALENTINE COMMUNITY!
Wishing you a Valentine’s day brimming with love and delight!
The loving gifts you sent were turned into 548 gift bags for residents of shelters for people fleeing domestic abuse and trafficking. In the 10 years since the Valentine Community began we have given 3,445 gift bags. Thank you for all the love you put into the world!
Dear Hearts,
I hope seeing these beautiful gifts brings you a slice of the joy they brought me!!
For children Valentine’s Day is a community holiday: cards are given to and received from kids you like and ones you don’t. At some point Valentine’s Day takes a sharp turn towards romance. Loneliness and painful relationships can make a festival of love sting. I am a firm believer community is the greatest balm. Since 2013 the Valentine Community has celebrated St. Valentine’s Day by making gifts for survivors of domestic abuse and trafficking living in emergency housing. This truly is a stone soup project! I always end up smitten with the diverse and dynamic community that opens its heart to make it all happen, and just bursting with joy to get to pay some love forward. The gifts you made possible with your donations of stuff, money, time, and prayers make my heart glow!
However you mark this day I hope you make a point of giving & receiving love in abundance!
With Much Love,
Emily Valentine Sottile
P.S. Collection for Valentine’s Day 2024 starts February 14, 2023. We can accept donations year ‘round and would love to get donations in over the summer to be able to a jump start on sorting and packing. Check out the PARTICIPATE page to learn how to get involved.