Maine Girl Scouts spread the love with Valentine’s Day cards for hospice patients
February 2023
STATEWIDE—Girl Scout troops all over Maine put their artistic talents to good use this Valentine’s Day season, bringing smiles and laughter to thousands of hospice patients through handmade cards. The sentiment is part of the annual Hearts for Hospice Challenge organized by Amedisys and Beacon Hospice, which offer specialized care for patients throughout the country.
For the last eleven years, Girl Scout troops and community members across six different states have participated in the event, successfully creating over 15,000 homemade Valentine’s Day cards. Now in their twelfth year running, Hearts for Hospice celebrated their biggest turn out yet.
“These cards add a little color and brightness to someone’s day. I love to see what the girls come up with,” said Troop 1936 Leader Deb Johnson.
“I think this is an amazing project and just to know that someone somewhere is thinking about them is huge. It’s the little things that can just lighten a person’s day, especially when what they are facing is so serious,” said Troop 5030 Leader Jessica Bridges.
This was Troop 5030’s first time participating in the Hearts for Hospice Challenge, but after spending two weeks creating meaningful cards, Bridges says it certainly won’t be their last. For Troop 120 however, this was their fifth run with the challenge, and this year they created a total of 64 valentines to send out!
According to troop leader from Troop 1287, Amanda Winchell, the key to making memorable cards, is giving girls the freedom to take initiative.
“We created templates for the girls to use with some sample phrases, then we handed over some stickers, markers, scrapbook paper, etc. for them to be as creative as they wanted. We stepped in only to provide guidance, really letting them lead the way,” said Amanda.
Promoting the Girl Scout commitment to creative freedom for girls, guidelines for the Valentine’s Day cards are simple: be thoughtful. Participants are encouraged to use humor and messages of hope to make patients feel appreciated this winter.
“Everyone needs human interaction and love. Many patients have dementia and the memories they still have are from the distant past. These cards often help trigger happy memories of a time when their own children were young and made them homemade cards,” said Crystal Mills, Volunteer Coordinator for Beacon Hospice.
According to Mills, the number of cards contributed is growing every year.
“One office reported getting 200 cards in 2020, then 450 in 2021, and 1,400 cards in 2022! And that’s just in one location […] We extend our sincere appreciation to all the wonderful Girl Scouts that make Hearts for Hospice happen every year. You truly are the heart of hospice,” said Mills.
