Young People Set To Lift The Spirits Of Louisville’s Seniors One Valentine’s Day Card At A Time

Louisville Metro Meals on Wheel’s recipients are set to receive handmade Valentine’s Day cards created by youth volunteers from across the country. DoSomething.org, a global non-profit organization with the goal of motivating young people to make positive change, has teamed up with Meals on Wheels America for the fourth annual Love Letters campaign.

The popular campaign, encouraging young people to create handmade Valentine’s Day cards to lift the spirits of older adults, runs through February 10, 2017 and cards will be included in meal deliveries to Meals on Wheels clients across the country. Young people who sign up at DoSomething.org/loveletters by Jan. 31 and upload a “selfie” photo holding the card(s) they made will be eligible to enter to win a variety of prizes including a $3,000 scholarship.

“The Love Letters campaign has been a tremendous success in our community the last several years.  Last year alone we received more than 2,500 Valentine cards from schools, scout troops and other youth service providers,” said Eric Friedlander, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Community Services, the organization which administers the Meals on Wheels program locally.  “I hope we can continue to count on the compassionate, committed community response again this year and in future years.  These handmade cards bring great joy to the homebound seniors whom we serve.”

The J. Graham Brown School on South Fifth Street is a shining example of a local school which has increased their participation each year.

“ The Brown School students have “knocked it outta the park” the past two years that we have participated in this wonderful outreach with Metro Louisville and Meals on Wheels”, stated Stacey Powell, staff member with the Brown School who champions the Love Letters campaign.  “Our students are wonderful, caring, and compassionate. Last year we submitted over 940 handmade cards!  We are looking forward to participating again this year and our students are eager to have their cards delivered.”

Since 2014, nearly one million cards were distributed through Meals on Wheels America’s network nationwide, which serves nearly 2.5 million homebound seniors each year. The support of the volunteers and meals this network provides are critical to helping them maintain enough independence to stay in their own homes.

To donate cards to the local Meals on Wheels program, feel free to drop off any weekday before Feb. 10 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 701 W. Ormsby Ave. Suite 201.  Be sure to register your support at DoSomething.org/loveletters.  Feel free to contact Tiffany Reed, Volunteer Coordinator for the Louisville Metro Senior Nutrition Program at 574-6420 or Tiffany.Reed@louisvilleky.gov with any questions.