Rockford Sun

Last week, State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) and Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) announced that they will be joining the community in making Valentine’s Day cards to help build morale for the elderly. 

“For the third year in a row, we are asking the community to take part in this heart-warming project. Our Valentines for Seniors Card Drive provides Valentine’s Day wishes to residents of nursing homes, rehab, and long-term care facilities,” Syverson said. “We have seen how meaningful these Valentine’s wishes are to the residents of long-term care facilities, who have been more isolated in recent years because of ongoing public health concerns.”

Syverson also took to social media to advertise the event. He wrote in a Facebook post “It’s time for our annual Valentines for Seniors Card Drive! Get the whole family together and help me spread cheer and good will to the residents of local long-term care facilities! Donations can be dropped off at, or sent to, my district offices in Hampshire and Rockford until Feb. 7. Once your cards have been collected, we will deliver them to residents of long-term care facilities in communities across the 35th District. Thank you for participating in this heart-warming community project!”

The Valentines for Seniors Card Drive began on Jan. 17 and runs until Feb. 7. The valentines can be dropped off or mailed to the offices of Syverson in Rockford, Keicher in Sycamore or a joint office in Hampshire. They can be dropped off in a marked collection box between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on any weekday. Cards can also be arranged to be picked up if you are a church, school, social organization or business.

This has been a highly successful project aimed at building morale around Valentine’s Day. Last year local residents created more than 5,000 Valentines in the drive. In 2021 Martha Stewart made mention of the drive on her social media, leading to hundreds of donated Valentines from all across the nation.

Keicher said the drive is about honoring the elderly, saying they have worked hard and made sacrifices to give the following generations high quality of life.

“We invite local residents to share our joy and love of community by making Valentine’s to let residents of long-term care facilities know how much people care about them,” said Keicher.

For more information contact Syverson’s office at 815-987-7555 or Keicher’s office at 815-748-3494. This is also the number to arrange for cards to be picked up.