LITTLETON, Colo. — More than a year ago, COVID-19 swept the nation. Day in and day out, health care workers have been on the frontlines caring for patients.
To help lift their spirits this Valentine’s Day, the Littleton community is coming together to put their gratitude on display.
Rox Arts Gallery, a nonprofit funded by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, and Aspen Grove shopping center joined forces for the third annual "Love Letter Project." But this year is a little different: They’re providing free art kits to make Valentine's cards for the ER and Pediatrics departments at Littleton Adventist Hospital.
Patricia Jenkins is the co-manager at Rox Arts Gallery. So far, she’s put together 120 free art kits for community members to pick up from the art gallery and make a card for health care workers.
“We owe these people a lot of gratitude, and they need to know that we think they’re pretty cool,” Jenkins said. “They have to get up every morning and risk their lives in order to help other people.”
She began to draw when she was a little girl after she caught whooping cough. Jenkins advocates for the arts and describes it as an alternative way for people to express feelings and gratitude beyond words.
Once the cards are finished, they can be dropped off at a red mailbox located just a few doors down from Rox Arts Gallery at Aspen Grove. The red Valentine mailbox was created by an artist at the gallery.
On Monday, Carol Lockwood dropped off ten cards. She and a group of women at a retirement home in Centennial put their hearts on their sleeves to show health care workers a little love.
“Just a great big thank you for what they’ve been through this last year,” Lockwood said.
Allysen Santilli, the marketing manager for Aspen Grove, picks up the cards, put them in an envelope and stamps them for delivery.
“This year, we thought we needed to go a little deeper, and we thought, 'let's help our heroes from the hospital and give them a little love,'” Santilli said. “It’s the perfect time with Valentine’s Day.”
Homemade cards can also be dropped off at the mailbox — no stamp is needed. Feb. 7 is the last day to drop off cards.
