Bucks Co. Charity Project Sends 1,000 Valentine's To 'A Love For Life' Donors

DOYLESTOWN, PA — One thousand handcrafted valentines will be arriving at homes throughout the region as a thank you to the donors of "A Love For Life," a Newtown-based nonprofit that raises thousands of dollars annually for pancreatic cancer research.

The "Hearts In Action" valentine-making project, which took place over a snowy and cold two week period, was organized by the National Charity League, Central Bucks Chapter, which fosters mother-daughter relationships by supporting local nonprofits and their projects.

During the project, NCL volunteers created handmade valentines and them labeled, stamped, and sealed them for mailing to the donors of A Love for Life.

The Central Bucks Chapter of The National Charity League offers volunteer service to more than a dozen local philanthropic organizations, including A Love For Life. The chapter includes women and their daughters in grades 7-12, who also participate in leadership development and cultural experiences. The group has collaborated with A Love for Life for more than 10 years.

Volunteers with the Central Bucks Chapter of the National Charity League making valentine thank you notes. (A Love For Life)

Volunteers with the Central Bucks Chapter of the National Charity League making valentine thank you notes. (A Love For Life)

Their past support of "A Love for Life" has included assisting at its annual Oktoberfest fundraiser in Newtown and coordinating volunteers for dragon boat races. They also provide volunteers for the annual Newtown Shamrock Shuffle 5K, which is scheduled for Saturday, March 14 this year.

“The girls really enjoyed working on an artistic project that holds a far deeper meaning than just cutting out hearts and stamping purple envelopes,” said Heather Coyle, a Doylestown resident and vice president of membership for NCL. “It was a chance to come together in the middle of snowy weekend afternoons and produce small works of art to share with donors, and to show gratitude for their support over the past year.”

Christine Edmonds, president and founder of A Love for Life and a Newtown resident, said that "sending out our 'thank you' Valentines is also a nice reminder that not everyone has a romantic interest to focus on - we can just send something pink and purple in the mail that says, 'We appreciate you’.”

She added, “Valentine’s Day was never my favorite holiday, and now that Kevin is not here, my February 14 week is always spent at our local Clark’s Flower Shop. It is so busy and bustling there this week, the people who work there are so kind and talented and it’s going to be absolutely crazy this Thursday/Friday/Saturday. There’s no time to be sad or think of what I would be doing if he was here. Sending out our 'thank you' Valentines is also a nice reminder that not everyone has a romantic interest to focus on- we can just send something pink and purple in the mail that says: 'we appreciate you’ “.

More information about The National Charity League may be found at www.nationalcharityleague.org/chapter/centralbucks/