Hannah Eckert, 3, stamps a Valentine with a paint-soaked sponge. Eckert along with others made Valentine Cards with their mothers in an effort to get one to each shut-in in the Carson, Douglas and Washoe Counties. Carson City needed about 1,000 cards to satisfy its need. Photo by Brian Corley
With glitter, glue and construction paper, moms and their children set out Friday to make Valentine's Day a little brighter for Carson City seniors.
"I thought the whole idea of making these for the senior citizens was cool," said Julie Redmond, who brought her two daughters Chrissy, 2, and Amy, 6 months. "It's really nice."
The idea was born as Darcy Otranto, publisher of the Northern Nevada Family magazine, and her executive editor Ellen Hopkins tossed around community service ideas.
"The senior citizens get a lot of attention during Christmas and around the holidays," Otranto said. "Valentine's Day is not too big, so we decided to put together a community effort."
They organized a Valentine-making campaign in Carson City and in Washoe, Douglas and Lyon counties.
In Carson City, they solicited the help of the schools but still fell short by about 900 cards.
That's when the Carson City Mom's Group stepped in. With about 80 members and help from other community volunteers, the moms met with their children Friday in the Children's Museum to decorate valentines.
"It's good for the kids to learn to give back to the community," said Erin Lehman, president of the group who brought her three children Caden, 5, Lindy, 4, and Brynn, 2. "Plus the kids just love this stuff."
Brothers Quintn, 5, and Andrew Outland, 3, came from Reno with their mother Michelle, who is co-president of the Reno mom's group, and sister Emily, 5 months.
"I made them with glitter and little balls," said Quintn. "They were good."
Andrew made cards also.
"I used all kinds of stuff," he said. "I did it pretty cute."
The cards will all be given to Mike Hughes of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program who will deliver them to senior citizens centers throughout town.