They never meet.

But the people, often school children, who create the Valentine鈥檚 Day cards and the seniors who receive their one-of-a-kind creations both value being part of the heartwarming local program to help with social isolation.

鈥淲hen seniors were kind of being isolated and on their own [during the pandemic, the cards] were a method to connect with them and bring them a little cheer in their life,鈥� said Lynda Fourchalk, who oversees the project for the local volunteer bureau.

91原创 Volunteers, a local bureau that links volunteers with volunteer opportunities, has for the past several years overseen the card program. Local students and others create cards which are given to local seniors for Remembrance Day, Christmas, Easter and Valentine鈥檚 Day.

鈥淚 think what surprised me the most is how grateful both the teachers and the seniors are to participate,鈥� Fourchalk said.

There鈥檚 typically 40 to 80 different classrooms involved in creating cards, and she works with about 30 different seniors facilities as well as the program has expanded to provided cards to seniors through the Gateway of Hope for Christmas and Valentine鈥檚 Day. They have been distributed as far as Peace Arch Hospital, based on requests but the majority are distributed within the 91原创s.

鈥淪o far today we have created over 18,000 cards, and 15,000 seniors have received them,鈥� she said.

While most of the cards are created by students, the program has benefited from some churches also helping out. And this past Christmas, there were some two and three year olds making some distinctive artwork for cards.

Fourchalk said whenever she delivers cards to seniors facilities, staff say how much they are appreciated.

鈥淎nd some of them keep them on their fridge for like months afterwards,鈥� Fourchalk noted. 鈥淪ome of them write thank you notes to the kids if the kids have provided like a classroom and a school name.鈥�

The program is paid for by grants, donations and sponsorships that provide all the supplies to participating schools and youth groups, as well as postage. There鈥檚 several weeks lead time needed to get the materials to those creating the cards, get the cards done and get them organized for distribution. The Valentine鈥檚 Day cards, for instance, had to be created before Christmas. Fourchalk admits she 鈥榲olunteers鈥� her grandkids to help with the sorting.

Because of demand, there will be Easter cards this year.

Learn more about the card program through the

.

鈥� READ MORE: 91原创 program sends out 3,700 Christmas cards

鈥� READ MORE: 91原创鈥檚 volunteer bureau looking for snow angels

.