IDAHO FALLS AREA JUSTSERVE, in collaboration with Senior Solutions, a local company which serves senior citizens in the community, launched their second annual Valentines for Seniors campaign in February. JustServe extended an invitation to residents of all ages to create handmade valentines, then helped sort and deliver those messages of hope and love. Schools, CEI, neighborhoods, and businesses were invited to participate. Residents were instructed to mail or deliver their donations. For schools and large groups, pickups were arranged. Mayor of Idaho Falls, Rebecca Casper, once again issued a Proclamation for We Love Seniors Day 2022.
Aware of 2,000 seniors for the first Valentines for Seniors project in 2021, their goal was set. Exceeding their goal with the collection of 5,050 valentines, JustServe and Senior Solutions vowed to deliver every single one of them, which they did.
Drawing on their experiences from last year, they went into this year’s project prepared to deliver to more than just the local seniors. Senior Solutions arranged with home health and hospice companies the delivery of the 550 fresh red roses that Teton Radiology and other generous donors had supplied. Valentines were also delivered with the flowers. Organizers wanted the roses to go into homes where the likelihood of a fresh rose for Valentine’s Day might not otherwise have been a reality.
The final count for this year was 6,600 handmade valentines from the community! Thousands were donated by children and thousands created by adults. Valentines were delivered to senior living centers, senior housing and distributed through senior programs such as Meals on Wheels. Many were also delivered door-to-door. Residents in multiple shelter homes and inpatients in three hospitals were recipients.
Promoting projects for Hospital Workers Appreciation has been part of the community’s JustServe efforts the past few years, so thousands of the handcrafted cards were delivered to the hospital staff and once again, were an expression of gratitude from the community. Valentine deliveries, along with expressions of gratitude to our first responders, were also made to the Idaho Falls Police and Fire Departments, and Bonneville County Sheriff’s Division.
Valentine’s Day isn’t the only day of the year we can serve our beloved senior population. Multiple projects that can bless the lives of the elderly are posted on www.JustServe.org. We invite you to find a way to continue to share admiration for “our crown jewels” who have helped build our great community.