Handmade valentines for local seniors are being collected this month by branches of the Lambton County Library.
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Last year, the library delivered more than 1,800 valentines to the three long-term care homes the county runs, as well as their adult day programs.
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It’s something the county library has been doing for about three years, said Greer Macdonell, community library supervisor.
“The homes are really wonderful to distribute these,” Macdonell said.
“Every year we just have better results.”
As well as the three county-owned homes and their adult day programs, valentines go to seniors who have signed up for the library system’s mobile library service which delivers books and materials to about 330 residents in long-term care homes and retirement communities.
“They have regular deliveries of library materials to them,” Macdonell said about the mobile service. “It would be very difficult for them to get to a library, so we offer this service.”
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The mobile library program visits locations all around Lambton County, she said.
“We create a profile with each boss to figure out what types of authors they like, what types of genres they prefer, and staff will pick materials,” Macdonell said.
Patrons in the program are also able to use the library’s online system to select items, she said.
The two staff members who work in the mobile service have the chance to deliver valentines to those seniors in person, Macdonell said. “The elders who receive them are just so thrilled and so happy.”
Valentines collected at branches by Jan. 31 will be delivered in time for Valentine’s Day.
“It is special,” Macdonell said about the experience of receiving a handmade valentine. “I feel like it’s a bit of nostalgia. Valentines have always been a traditional part of that holiday.”
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All of the library’s branches have blank valentine templates and materials patterns can use to decorate them there, Macdonell said.
“But if they want to make one at home and bring it in, we’re happy to deliver those as well,” she said.
“Some people put a lot of work into their valentines.” Macdonell said. “They’re very beautiful.”
The handmade valentines are also enjoyed by staff at the library headquarters in Wyoming where they are gathered before being sent out, Macdonell said.
“The kids, in particular, just write the cutest messages,” she said. “We all pick our favorites and enjoy them and then send them out into the world.”
The county library has 25 branches spread across Lambton’s 11 municipalities, which include Sarnia.
Information on branch locations, hours and programs can be found online at www.llibrary.ca.
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