Letters and care packages were shipped from Newtown schools and other participating organizations in time for Valentine’s Day through the American Legion Post 202 Valentines for Troops effort.

Countless local children wrote a magnitude of letters as part of the effort to send words of appreciation and support to service men and women overseas.

According to the American Legion Post 202, Valentines for Troops began in 2006 as the idea of second grade Sandy Hook Elementary teacher Carole MacInnes. That year, two classes wrote letters to troops, and Valentines for Troops was born. Since then, thousands of letters and packages have been sent to members of the military all over the world. The names and contact information for those who are serving in the military at “home or abroad” were shared with American Legion Post 202’s Donna Monteleone Randle ahead of the effort this year to coordinate the program. The American Legion then facilitated connecting those who wrote letters with a military point of contact.

Newtown High School students had two ways to participate in the effort. Hundreds of valentines were created by NHS students during advisory periods to be sent to the Valentines For Troops effort through the Newtown Youth & Family Services (NYFS) Operation Heat-to-Heart program, which is held annually in cooperation with American Legion Post 202. NHS student members of Families United in Newtown (FUN) also participated in making valentines when the group hosted an event on February 3, which included making cards and letters. The valentines made by FUN members were collected at Sandy Hook Elementary School on February 8 as part of that school’s Valentines For Troops effort this year.

Sandy Hook School Valentines For Troops PTA Co-Chair Rebecca Fung, who co-chairs the effort at the school with Melissa Mosett, estimated her school alone sent several hundred valentines. Girl Scouts of Connecticut donated Girl Scout Cookies as part of Sandy Hook School’s donations. The valentines and cookies were boxed at the school on February 8, and students decorated the boxes.

According to NYFS, it collected 590 valentines and cards to send to troops serving overseas this year. The cards were made by local Girl Scouts, Brownies, Daisies, NHS students, NYFS social groups, and other community members. This was the third year NYFS partnered with American Legion Post 202 for the effort.

“Our hope is that these cards will let our soldiers know that we are thinking of them and appreciate their service and the sacrifice they’ve made for our country,” said NYFS Executive Director Candice Bohr in a release.

“The quality of cards we received was outstanding, especially those from Newtown High School,” said NYFS Marketing & Community Outreach Coordinator Melissa Cercone. “The kind words and stories the students shared were really touching.”

Head O’ Meadow Elementary School, Hawley Elementary School, and Middle Gate Elementary School also took part in this year’s effort.

Hawley lead teacher Jenna Connors shared her school sent more than 300 valentines to five different locations, with some going to family and friends of Hawley students and staff who are serving overseas.

According to Middle Gate fourth grade teacher Linda Baron, more than a dozen classes at her school participated in the effort.

Ms Randle said all of the contacts who are being sent packages through this year’s Valentines For Troops effort are “excited about receiving the packages and sharing the cards and letters with those in their unit.”

According to Ms Randle, Reed Intermediate School sent packages to its own “family list” of service personnel.

“Year after year, this is a truly wonderful outreach which puts smiles on the faces of so many service men and women so far from home. This year, Newtown is sending over 1,200 individual greetings, and more are still coming in,” Ms Randle said in an e-mail on February 7.