Red Cross collecting Valentines from kids to give to service members

Newton - The Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross has launched its third annual “Operation Heart to Heart” project, requesting elementary school children in the county to make valentines for U.S. military service members. They are also collecting non-perishable items, such as candy, gum, drink mix, and snacks. All items must be new and in their original packaging. The valentines and items will be delivered on Feb. 14 to McGuire Air Force base in Ft. Dix, as well as mailed to servicemen and women from the county who are serving overseas. “We’ve done this project every Valentine’s Day for the last three years,” said Kristi Young, director of programs and services for the county Red Cross chapter. “It was such a moving thing to see. There were grown men, dressed in full military gear, coming over to the Red Cross table, actually asking for the valentines, saying they’d hang it up on their bunk when they got where they were going. “We also hung some of the letters and valentines up on a board, so that all of the servicemen and women could stop and read them,” she continued. “So many of them stopped to take a look — and several of them actually got teary-eyed while reading them. It meant a lot to them that these kids were thinking of them.” All cards, valentines and letters can be dropped off during normal business hours or sent to the Sussex County Chapter at 93 Spring St., Newton, NJ 07860. All must be received by Feb. 12. All letters/valentines should be unsealed, as they will be opened and checked for content by chapter staff. For information, call 973-579-1600, ext. 13, or send e-mail to kyoung@sussexredcross.org.