Valentines project to impact thousands of eastern Idaho seniors — and organizers want your help
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IDAHO FALLS — With Valentine’s Day just weeks away, some locals hope to bring a smile to eastern Idaho’s seniors.
With a successful first year in 2021, the collaboration between Senior Solutions and JustServe is back. Senior Solutions is a local business whose goal is “to help families find the right solutions for their aging loved ones,” and JustServe is an organization that connects volunteers to service opportunities hope to impact thousands of people with Valentines for Seniors.
“We know that the seniors were hit really hard with COVID emotionally, the loneliness and isolation,” Idaho Falls JustServe area coordinator Susan Stucki said. “There is still much respect we have for those seniors who have paved the way in this community … and Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to honor them and to get the community involved.”
Last year, the program collected and distributed over 5,000 valentines to the thousands of seniors in eastern Idaho. To do it again, JustServe and Senior Solutions are asking for people to make valentines or use a provided template for delivery to area seniors.
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“Last year we saw just such a variety, people are so creative,” Stucki said. “We did have a lot of adults who made multiple valentines … (We just want) a message of hope that we will deliver.”
It is not just adults who are invited to create the valentines. Everyone, from classrooms to faith groups, is asked to help participate.
“We know there are so many good-hearted people in this community,” Stucki said. “It takes time to sit down and write a message. It takes time to create a nice beautiful valentine. … It brought so much joy and hope.”
To help with the project, Teton Radiology and anonymous donors contributed money to buy hundreds of roses. The flowers will be given out in addition to the valentines.
Valentines need to be received by Senior Solutions by Feb. 7 for delivery. You can mail the valentines to Senior Solutions at 2296 North Yellowstone Highway, Suite 303, Idaho Falls, ID, 83401, or if you have a lot, the organization can pick them up.
If you’re interested in participating, visit JustServe.org to find out more. Additional questions can be emailed to idahofallsjustserve@gmail.com.