Hearts of Hope-Newtown Chapter proudly announces it will again collaborate with American Legion Post 202 to host the first Paint With A Purpose event of 2026, this month at Newtown Community Center.

Connecticut military personnel overseas will be the recipients of all the hearts painted at the event, scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, from 6 to 8 pm, at the community center, 8 Simpson Street.

It is free to all participants of all ages. Newtown-Strong Therapy Dogs and handlers will be present at this event.

This will be the fourth year for the collaborative effort between the two local organizations. It is part of a larger annual project: Valentines for Troops, organized by American Legion Post 202 to show support for active military often far from home at this time of year. Local youth are also asked to create valentines which are distributed along with Hearts of Hope — small hand-painted ceramic hearts with personal messages.

When the hearts are packaged and ready for delivery, they will be transported to the CT National Guard, who will then deliver them to their destination for distribution to our military men and women overseas.

Past recipients of this annual event include the US Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation Unit, CT Army National Guard Aviation Unit, Massachusetts National Guard Dental Unit, US Army Special Forces, and the US Naval Submarine Base in Groton. Hearts of Hope were most recently given to sailors who took hearts with them to the North Pole.

Reservations are requested and can be made via email to HOH-Newtown Co-President Ivy Pearson at ivy@ourheartsofhope.org.