Since February 2013, residents have become familiar with Hearts of Hope, a program that invites people of all ages to paint palm-sized ceramic hearts with simple messages of hope.

The unique hearts are then left to be discovered by strangers, who are encouraged to keep them and take them home. A collection of hearts was sent to Newtown two months after 12/14, left for residents to find on Valentine’s Day, which coincided with the two-month anniversary of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Three months later, residents had their first opportunity to pay forward some of the kindness shown in the aftermath of 12/14, by painting ceramic hearts with messages of hope for others. Since then hearts have been created for those in area affected by natural disasters (including Moore, Oklahoma, and surrounding areas), those visited by tragedy (Boston, following the April 2013 Marathon bombings), and those who need some positive thoughts and cheer and a reminder that they are never forgotten, including patients at the VA Hospital in West Haven.

Most recently, 300 hearts decorated by Newtown residents were delivered to Charleston, S.C., to send messages of hope and strength to residents of that city following the June 17 shootings inside Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church that left nine people dead.

A Hearts of Hope-Newtown chapter was formally recognized by July 2013, and it celebrated its second anniversary on June 17. First Selectman Pat Llodra was among the guests that evening. She joined others for the monthly painting party hosted by HOH-Newtown, held generally on the third Wednesday of each month in the hall of Newtown United Methodist Church.

Also attending the special event that evening was Hearts of Hope Founder and Director Judy Pedersen.