Valentines For Veterans Continues To Collect Donated Valentines

By Brian M. Johnson, The Bristol Press

February 4, 2022

Valentines for Veterans, started by local teen Maggie Wernicki, continues to collect donated Valentines and has gone on to inspire similar collections in other communities.

“We are still collecting, but we are up to more than 600 Valentines at this point,” said Wernicki, who is Miss Connecticut Young Teen Princess American Woman of Service, on Thursday.

The Valentines are being dropped off at the Veterans Strong Community Center, for eventual distribution to VA hospitals and nursing homes where there are veterans as residents in Bristol, Terryville, Southington, Plainville, Wolcott and Thomaston.

Locally, the initiative has been supported by several residents including middle school students.

Thank you John F. Kennedy Middle School and Joseph A. DePaolo Middle School for making so many valentines for veterans,” said Wernicki. “I’m humbled by your support.”

The #valentinesforveterans campaign has also been picked up by youths in surrounding states.

“A group of my sister queens are making valentines for the Rhode Island VA as well,” said Wernicki.

Wernicki started Valentines for Veterans in January to seek the community’s help in “brightening veterans’ days” for Valentine’s Day.

“It’s all about bringing smiles to their faces,” Wernicki said. “I have had many events with veterans. It started out with me wanting to see what I could do to make the holidays fun for them. Many of them don’t have family or loved ones in the area to be with. I’ve done secret Santa programs for Christmas and candy collections for Halloween.”

A local sophomore, Wernicki said the American Women of Service organization she belongs to focuses on what members do for the community and how they get involved. For Wernicki, this means doing as much as she can to support veterans in the community.

Wernicki has been posting on several community pages on Facebook for these cities and towns to encourage “teachers, students and those that are young at heart” to support Valentines for Veterans.

She encouraged those who make the valentines to post about it on social media and to use the hash tags #valentinesforveterans and #voicesofhonor so people could “see where all the love is going.”

Brian M. Johnson can be reached at 860-973-1806 or bjohnson@bristolpress.com.