Invitation 2023 - Please send donations by January 28
January 2023
Happy New Year Dear Ones!
I hope this finds you strong in spirit! It is time to pack the valentines!
2023 is the 10th year of this stone soup effort to make Valentine’s day a little brighter for survivors of domestic abuse & trafficking in emergency shelters. Last year you made a truly miraculous thing happen: 604 amazing gift bags for the residents of 14 shelters. I can’t begin to tell you how touched I am by what you made happen (check out the 2022 bags valentinecommunity.com/2022)
One of the many troubling realities of the pandemic was a rise in domestic abuse & trafficking. The need for hope in times despair is as important as ever, as is 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 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.
No worries AT ALL if this project isn't for you, but if it resonates click PARTICIPATE to get involved including: Donating Stuff, Donating Money, Praying, Making Valentines, & Spreading the Word.
Making our communities safer, more loving places, and praying for the healing of those who have been abused is something we can all do year ‘round but in order to make it into the 2023 gift bags all donations must be received by January 28, 2023.
What we give the Valentines depends upon what you share. 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. Perhaps there are some perfectly lovely Christmas presents you’ve received that you just don’t want, gently used bags or jewelry that you just never wear - anything you won’t miss, that could make someone who had to leave everything behind feel a little more pulled together would be perfect! Maybe you or your company would like to offer a bunch of the same thing you make. Info on the kinds of things we are looking for can be found here valentinecommunity.com/donate-stuff/
Please send stuff here valentinecommunity.com/ship If you live in the Douglaston area you can coordinate with Rose to drop things off at our packing site. If you are in NYC or the Berkshires you can coordinate with me to pick it up. If you include your email address in the box you send I’ll send you a note to let you know I got it.
Thank you most sincerely.
Peace,
Emily Valentine Sottile
emilysottile@gmail.com