Glenbard to host Valentines for Vets on Feb. 1

Valentine's Day is around the corner, and the sweetest thing you can do to celebrate the day is to be a part of Valentines for Vets, which Glenbard high schools will host on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

Valentines for Vets is an annual event where students come together to create cards and letters to thank hospitalized veterans and those serving in the military. On Feb. 1, students will gather in their school cafeterias to create these beautifully thoughtful cards. All students are encouraged to attend, whether alone or with their clubs, teams and friends. Glenbard's Advocating Character Through Service (ACTS) Committee sponsors pizza, music and art supplies. Once again, many of our elementary school districts will participate in Valentines for Vets in their schools.

To donate art supplies or snacks, please drop off donations on or before Feb. 1 at the main office of any Glenbard high school. To volunteer at Valentines for Vets, donate funding or join the ACTS committee, contact Gilda Ross, Glenbard District 87 student and community projects coordinator, at 942-7668 or gilda_ross@glenbard.org.

Thanks to the many student and staff organizations that help sponsor Valentines for Vets: Club Interact, Key Club, Students for Students, National Honor Society, the Glenbard Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports teams and others. Special thanks to the Village of Glendale Heights for their leadership on this project, our Boosters Clubs and the members of the ACTS Committee.

This great event was the brain child of Gina Thorson, who was the public relations director in Glendale Heights. Years ago, Thorson read a newspaper story about our veterans in hospitals or long-term care facilities rarely receiving mail. She decided to do something about it - send them Valentines. Her idea took on a whole new life when students at Glenbard's four high schools picked up the idea and ran with it. Sadly, Thorson passed away a few years ago, but her legacy lives on in our students.