Hugs and kisses to everyone — Spread a little love with the My Golden Valentine Project
The My Golden Valentine Project reaches out to the elderly and home-bound people to make sure they are accounted for on Valentine’s Day. The program is operated through KSLT, a Christian radio station based in Rapid City that covers a five-state region, including Wyoming.
“We hope to just let them know that they are loved,” said Ellen Butts, a Newcastle resident who was inspired by the project after hearing about it on the radio station. That was the year she stepped up and became the local coordinator for the project in the northeast corner of Wyoming.
“I heard it on the radio and saw that they needed somebody. I love doing crafty things and I love my senior citizens, so I just volunteered to be the coordinator. Every year I just volunteer to be the coordinator again,” Butts said.
The project is not limited to Newcastle. Butts and her fellow volunteers deliver valentines to folks in Osage, Upton and Lusk as well.
“It is a community project,” said Shirley Nelson, also a volunteer.
She and her husband, Bill, have been loyal contributors to the cause since Butts reached out looking for help. The Nelsons have been bagging the valentines and driving to deliver them ever since.
This year the group expects to prepare and deliver over 350 valentines across northeastern Wyoming.
“Our community is majority senior
citizens, and we need to let them know their lives are precious to God and to us,” Butts said.
She used Facebook to recruit help for putting the bags together.
“The elderly are important, and it is so awesome to see the community pitch in,” said Linda Bohn, another Newcastle resident who is aiding the effort.
Butts became involved because she wanted to bring some joy to people, and Bohn started helping for the same reason.
“Somebody has to reach out and let them know they are special and valuable,” she explained.
Bohn has made efforts to reach out to the elderly community in Newcastle since 2020, when she noticed the isolation caused by the pandemic. That year the Right to Life group delivered cookies to senior citizens across the community, and in 2021, the Golden Valentine Project officially came to Newcastle.
Each Valentine contains two cookies, one Hershey’s kiss, one Hershey’s hug and a handmade card or note of encouragement. Butts requested help from the community in baking the cookies and putting together some Valentine’s cards. In the past, some church youth and 4-H groups have contributed to card making. Community members from near and far have pitched in to help with the cookie baking.
“We have a caring community, and we are just sharing the love. We care about people,” Butts said.
“The people that step up and help, you see the excitement in their hearts,” Bohn said.
Butts goes out of her way to reach as many citizens as possible with the project.
“If I limited it to the Manor and assisted living, we would miss so many citizens,” she explained, noting that she also makes sure to include the home-bound and widows in the distribution.
“We don’t want to forget them,” she said.
Their favorite part of the operation is the deliveries. That’s when they get to see their Valentines in action, and they’re even willing to fight through knee-high snowdrifts to get the precious greetings delivered.
“When we deliver them, the smiles on their faces are enough,” Bohn said.
“People need it. They need to know people care about them,” Nelson agreed.
Butts has received the same positive feedback in her deliveries, which encourages her to keep going.
“They are always greatly appreciated; we have had some people cry,” she said. “These Valentines are some of the last things some of these people have gotten (in their lives).”
The group plans to deliver over 350 Valentines this year, but they would love to hand out more, and Butts urges community members to let her know of anyone who should be added to their list.
“Last year, each recipient received five Valentines to brighten their day and show them just how much they are loved,” Butts posted on her Facebook page.
Butts said she and the other volunteers are also asking community members to consider baking cookies or making a couple of cards to contribute to the effort.
“Ellen is the hard-working one; she is the organized one,” Bohn said.
To help with the My Golden Valentine Project, contact Butts at 307-746-4251. Valentine’s cards can be delivered to the Kaffee Klatsch or to Butts directly by Feb. 10. Cookies can be delivered to the Foursquare Church early to be frozen or by 10 a.m. on Feb. 14. This is where the bagging of the Valentines takes place to be prepared for delivery.