Invitation 2026 - Please send MoneY & STUFF by February 5

January 2024

Happy New Year Dear Ones!

I hope this finds you strong in spirit!

Among the many things I am thankful for daily is a safe & loving environment. This blessing is the fruit of many 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 factors 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. 

This year is a little different. I am relying on the help of the community to pack the bags while I am with my family in Massachusetts, catching our breath after the loss of my brother in law, just before Christmas. There are a few ways to participate this year:

  1. SEND MONEY We still have to buy the bags the gifts will go in, supplies and other materials needed to make it all work. PLEASE SEND MONEY BY FEBRUARY 5th

  2. SEND STUFF Most of us have more than we need and could share some lightly used scarves and hand bags (no other clothes please), unused toiletries and cosmetics, and jewelry. if you are sending stuff please email me to let me know what you are sending. I will be coordinating everything this year but won’t be there to pack the bags myself, but I still want to know what you sent so I can thank you and so we can plan for how it is used. Check out the bags from years past for inspiration.

  3. START A LOCAL VALENTINE’S DAY PROJECT (Step by step guide here)

  4. PRAY for the valentines receiving our gifts & the many people who need love at this time

No worries AT ALL if this project isn't for you, but if it resonates click PARTICIPATE to get involved including: Sending Money, Praying, & Starting a local Valentine Community Project.

I can’t begin to tell you how touched I am by what you made happen over the past 13 years. Thank you most sincerely.

Peace,
Emily Valentine Sottile
emilysottile@gmail.com
954-604-1880

PARTICIPATE