On Valentine's Day, nearly 20 students from Spoede Elementary (grades K-4) brought warmth and joy to the residents of Autumn View Gardens – Seniors Living. With over 100 handmade cards in hand, they spent time chatting with residents, sharing smiles, and spreading kindness.

"I love seeing the kids realize that a simple card can brighten someone's entire day or even their week,” detailed Becca Hamm, a second-grade teacher at Spoede. “Many of them have never been to a nursing home, so this is a great learning experience for them. The residents were so touched—some even had happy tears as they shared their cards with friends."

This heartwarming tradition was inspired by a previous Read, Right, and Run event and has now become an annual service project for Spoede’s second graders. While all students in the grade created Valentines during the school day, a dedicated group from various grade levels volunteered on their day off to hand-deliver them.

"Seeing the happiness on the residents' faces is always my favorite part! The students may not fully realize it at first, but their simple act of kindness makes a huge impact. After seeing the joy they bring, they start to understand just how meaningful this experience is," said Mrs. Tegan Miller, a project sponsor and teacher at Spoede Elementary.

The visit was a reminder that even small gestures can make a big difference. Thank you to teachers Tegan Miller, Becca Hamm, Carly Coleman, and Riley Deutsch, along with our amazing students, for leading with kindness, one handmade card at a time!