For one D.C. student, the beginning of his final year of high school means something different than one last football game or prom: It marks the continuation of his five-year Valentine’s Day service project.
Patrick Kaufmann, who attends Washington International School, has been building Valentines By Kids since seventh grade. The project has younger students write Valentine’s cards to nursing home residents, hospital patients and staff. Over the years, Kaufmann has involved over 45,000 children in his project.
The U.S. Surgeon General has warned that older Americans are more prone to feelings of loneliness and social isolation, especially those residing in nursing homes. The National Institute of Health also reports loneliness is common in primary care patients and can negatively impact recovery time. Valentines By Kids hopes to bring some joy into residents’ and others’ lives according to their mission statement.
“My close friends grew up in the hospital, and I know from them how lonely it can be sometimes, and I also just love volunteering,” Edina Young, social media coordinator for Valentines by Kids and freshman at Salisbury University, said. “It just makes me feel so happy to volunteer, and I've been making cards for your kids in the hospital.”
Young believes Kaufmann has a true passion for the project’s cause.
Kaufmann was inspired to create the project after participating in a nonprofit, Food & Friends, which had an activity to create Valentine’s Day cards.
“I realized that we were only about 12 to 13 kids and that not everyone was going to receive a Valentine's Day card,” Kaufmann said. “So then I asked my friends and people at my school to help out so that everyone will get the chance to receive a Valentine’s Day card.”
Five years later, his project is connecting schools with hospitals and nursing homes to create a wider card-writing initiative.
Lindsey Archuletta, a teacher at Takoma Park Elementary School in Takoma Park, Maryland, said she found great success in this project with her students.
“The kids have the opportunity to practice their writing, and of course, be creative. They love to know that what they're creating is then gonna be sent off,” Archuletta said.
In one of the years, a student in her class ended up sending a card to their neighbor.
“It was just one of those really weird, heartwarming stories that came full circle,” Archuletta said.
She found this project to teach students many things, including compassion. Archuletta believes that teaching her students to give back to the community is crucial to fostering the next generation. She is continuing to work with Kaufmann for the upcoming Valentine’s Day.
Kaufmann plans to reach out to different schools to figure out how many want to participate this year. Students then begin writing cards until February, when they are delivered by Kaufmann. As of October, the project has space for 18 more schools.
Kaufmann might not be able to continue the project next year since he will be attending college.
“I’m looking right now for an organization or a person who is very passionate that might be able to take this over in the future,” Kaufmann said. “I'm not going to let the project die.”
This article was edited by Gabrielle McNamee, Abigail Hatting and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Emma Brown, Avery Grossman, Ariana Kavoossi and Ava Stuzin. Fact-checking done by Aidan Crowe.
