Sent with Love: The Valentine’s Project

How 100+ handmade cards are bringing smiles to the Paramount Home and the halls of SHS.

Walk into the Somers High School Commons on the evening of January 28th, and you wouldn’t have found a typical club meeting. Instead, you would have seen a full-blown "Kindness Factory" in motion. The tables were covered in cardstock, stickers, and more glitter than we’ll probably ever be able to clean up. Our Leos gathered for a singular, heartfelt goal: to make sure the seniors at the Paramount Home and the teachers of Somers knew they were loved.

There is something deeply powerful about a handmade card in a digital world. While a text or a store-bought card takes seconds, a handmade Valentine takes intention. Our members spent hours crafting over 100 unique cards, each one filled with personal messages, drawings, and bright colors. The first batch was dedicated to the residents of The Paramount at Somers Rehabilitation & Nursing Center. For many seniors, especially those who may not have local family, a bright card from a high school student is a vital bridge of connection. It tells them that the next generation hasn't forgotten them and that they are still a cherished part of the Somers family.

But we knew we couldn't stop there. The "Young Hero" vibe is also about recognizing the heroes right in front of us every day: our teachers. From the mentors who stay late to help with a difficult project to the staff who keep our school running behind the scenes, Somers teachers give their all. We dedicated a special portion of the night to crafting "Thank You" Valentines for the educators at SHS and across the district. It was our way of giving back a fraction of the energy they pour into us daily.

During the meeting, the energy was electric. While we worked, club leaders Paige and PJ kept the momentum going, discussing even more ways to serve—like our upcoming volunteer work with the Somers Special Olympics floor hockey team and our highly anticipated trip to the United Nations in March. It’s this mix of small, local gestures and big, global opportunities that makes being a Leo so unique.

By the time we packed up the markers and sorted the cards into delivery bins, the room felt different. There’s a specific kind of "Leo Spark" that happens when you’re working side-by-side with friends for something bigger than yourself. These cards might just be paper and glue to some, but to a senior at Paramount or a tired teacher on a Tuesday morning, they are a reminder that they belong to a community that cares. This is leadership in its simplest, warmest form: taking the time to say "you matter."