HAPPY VALENTINE’s DAY! YOU Were agents of love in 2025!!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY 2025!

The headline for the Valentine Community Project 2025 continues to be Love Finds a Way! I love that the bags have a life of their own. So many people touch each of these bags and that the bags touch so many people along the way. 

The Valentine Community has packed and gifted 4,557 valentines gift bags since 2013.     

Two years ago I moved out of state and gave birth to a baby boy (August Valentine). Babies are amazing teachers of the wonder of how much love a heart can hold. I have found being a new parent a profound testament to the necessity of community. 

It really is nothing short of a miracle that today 564 gift bags will be unwrapped by survivors of domestic abuse and trafficking living in temporary shelter across New York City & the Berkshires. All of this happened without my being there to pack or sort or pick up anything. 

This year as I started to think about how to do this project from afar and with a toddler I wondered if it could be done and then donations just stared to come in before I even asked, and then I wondered if we could raise enough money to do it without the donation of stuff and folks filled in. The bags were backed by school kids and suddenly it not only could be done, but was done! A friend who started a valentine project in CT told me a similar story about her project this year.

For children Valentine’s Day is a community holiday: cards are given to and received from kids you like and ones you don’t. At some point Valentine’s Day takes a sharp turn towards romantic love. Loneliness and painful experiences in relationships can make a festival of love sting. I am a firm believer that community is the greatest balm.  The gifts you made possible with your donations of time, money and prayers make my heart glow! Thank you for all the love you put into the world! 

As always we wish you a St. Valentine's day brimming with love and delight!

With Much Love,
Emily Valentine Sottile (Barker) & all the extraordinary people who actually made this all happen

564 VALENTINES Delivered!

This year you sent love to residents at 14 shelters for people fleeing domestic abuse and trafficking (each serving 9 - 90 families).

Everyone received a red tote bag containing:
♥ Valentine's day card from the Valentine Community
♥ Bag of chocolate kisses
♥ A beautiful warm tartan scarf / travel blanket - We hope the ladies (and gents) feel wrapped up in our love whoever they wear them.

Check out gift bags from years past in the navigation menu. If you are inspired by this and would like to join our effort to spread love on Valentine’s Day 2026 please be in touch.

OUR CARD TO THE VALENTINES

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

This bag is full of Valentine’s Day goodies, each accompanied by prayers & wishes for your well-being & happiness.

Scores of people came. together from wildly different circumstances to contribute to these gift bags including artists, moms, dads, teenage valentines, wise old ones, school kids, teachers, beauty queens, clergy, people who work with their hands & others who work at desks, some out of work, veterans, healers, people who have endured all kinds of difficulty, souls from diverse spiritual traditions & folks who might not imagine they had anything in common with each other. This community spread out across country wants YOU to know we are rooting for your success, wellbeing & joy.

When you look at or use these things we hope you will remember thus time when you made a big step towards healing. We know you’ll look great when you use or wear these little treasures. We hope you feel strong & beautiful too!

Peace,
Your Valentines