We’re so grateful for everyone who volunteered in the 5th Annual Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids & Cookies for Caregivers initiative!
Volunteers (of all ages) made cards for children who had to be in a DC, MD, or VA pediatric hospital over Valentine's Day and cookies for the caregivers who support them. We wanted the recipients to know that members of their community were thinking of them and sending them best wishes. The cards were only for the kids and included uplifting messages for them. The cookies were only for the caregivers (due to the children’s specific dietary needs).
What was the process? During this community service activity, participating adults and young people discussed topics such as empathy, kindness, helping others, volunteering, friendship, respect for diversity, and making a positive impact in life. The card and cookie recipients have reflected they’re touched and moved to know members of their community really care about them, and are sending them positive uplifts during their challenging times. This small act of kindness can have a big impact.
Eliana’s Light receives by mail and picks up from local groups the cards and/or cookies, and delivers them to staff at Children’s National Hospital, Inova Children's Hospital, HSC's Pediatric Center, the Children's Inn at NIH, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, Medstar Washington Hospital Center, Johns Hopkin's Children’s Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. The staff members at the medical centers disseminated the cards to patients and the cookies to their caregivers (i.e., parents and staff members).
How did individuals and groups participate? Volunteers engaged in many ways, such as by:
* Organizing a group of friends and/or colleagues for a Valentine's Day card and/or cookie making party at their homes.
* Participating with their teacher during a school-based service learning and/or volunteer program.
* Making cards with colleagues as part of a company’s effort to help and connect with their community.
* Convening members of their scout troop, sorority, student group, association, moms group, team, or religious organization to make cards and cookies while connecting with others and discussing the importance of volunteering, contributing in a positive way within one’s community, and making a difference in someone else’s life.
What messages were included in the cards? Hospital staff and some parents cleared the following messages for inclusion in the Valentine’s Day cards:
- "You are loved"; "You are surrounded by love"; "I believe in you"; "You are strong and brave"; "I wish you the very best"; "You rock"; "I am thinking of you and sending you love"; "You inspire me"; "You are awesome"; "I hope you have a great day today"; "Be brave"; and "Always remember how awesome you are".
* We welcomed any way participating kids wanted to sign their cards. For example, some were signed, "First name, grade, school name", or "X-grader, school name, city name", or "X-grader, city name". We loved to have some kind of signature to personalize the cards.
o If your group will be making cookies, we’re especially looking for nut-free and low-sugar recipes that will give a tasty boost to caregivers.
Who participated? More than 2,260 volunteers from 18 states made 3,569 cards for children and 1,604 cookies for caregivers who needed to spend Valentine’s Day in one of the aforementioned 9 hospitals.
Participants of all ages came together in 34 groups of friends, sport teams, scout troops, and associations; 41 schools; 16 companies; 3 religious institutions; and 1 government agency to express their care and share their kindness.
Schools: American University, Bel Air School, Blessed Sacrament, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, CCBC Preschool, Commonwealth Academy, Crown College, Deal Middle School, Edmund Burke School, Forest Hill Elementary, George Mason University, George Washington University, Georgetown Day School, Glenbrook Middle School, Helenic Education Center, Hoffman-Boston Elementary School, Holy Child High School, Holy Cross School, Horace Mann Elementary, Houghton University, Hunter Woods Elementary School, IvyMount School, GW University, Key Elementary, Lake Braddock Secondary School, Lemon Road Elementary, Mason Crest Elementary, Messiah College, Murch Elementary, Our Lady of Mercy, Overlook Spanish Immersion School, Palisades Preschool, Rock Creek Valley Elementary, Royle Elementary, Salem University, St. Louis Catholic School, Southern Baptist University, Spring Hill Elementary School, Stoddard Elementary, Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Village Montessori of Bluemont, and Wyngate Elementary School
Companies & Organizations: Beltway Bambinos, Bloom OBGYN, Building Blocks Therapy, Coverage Inc., Covington & Burlington, Fingerprints Child Development Center, Fit4Mom of MOCO, Friends of Stead Park, Kid Friendly DC, Lilly Pulitzer of Arlington and Alexandria, Metro Office, Signal DC, Spring Valley Pediatrics, Stork Early Childbirth Education, TEK Systems, and Tinkerlight Photography
We hope this information is helpful to you, and we’re happy to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to your participation next year! If you’d like to be added to the list for 2021 participation, please email info@elianaslight.org.