Woodbridge Twp. Schools Create
Valentine Cards for Woodbridge Seniors

 Stand for Children, Woodbridge is celebrating five years of giving Valentine cards to the residents of Woodbridge Township’s senior housing towers.

Realizing that some Township seniors don’t have contact during the many holidays throughout the year is what prompted Helen Evans, President of Stand for Children, Woodbridge to create a Valentine card program through 21 of the Township’s schools.

Each year, Woodbridge Township students, grades 1^st through 8^th, create over 800 cards to be delivered to the senior citizens that reside in the six Towers overseen by the Woodbridge Housing Authority, including: Stern, Adams, Finn, Cooper, Olsen and Griener Towers. In the past, the children have created cards in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Some of the cards are mechanical, while other cards are covered in glitter; each card is made to make some one smile. The children inscribe the cards with inspirational thoughts and phrases to spread a message of love, and to remind the seniors that they have not been forgotten. Watching the children construct cards for people that they have never met gives you a sense of the love that the children pour into making them.

"Seeing all of these wonderful works of art is like being in an art gallery,” said Helen. “We are really looking forward to seeing the children’s work this year.”

On February 9^, 2007, all of the cards will be delivered to Jennifer Kaden of the Woodbridge Housing Authority. She will distribute them to the lobbies of each building. The cards are then left in the lobby for everyone to enjoy and then select a Valentine card for themselves.

“What an unselfish thing to do in spreading kindness to some one who may be lonely or forgotten,” said Helen.

For more information about the Senior Valentine Program, please contact Helen Evans, President, Stand for Children, 732.326.0326, or Vincent Soccadato, Supervisor of Social Studies and World Language of the Woodbridge Township Board of Education, 732.602.8556.

Stand For Children, Woodbridge was founded in 1998 to increase public awareness about the needs of children, and to encourage individuals to make a difference in the life of a child starting within their own community. The Woodbridge chapter is recognized in the local community for creating lasting programs that promote awareness of the obstacles children face living in foster care, and domestic violence shelters. A national membership organization, Stand For Children enables everyday people to join together in a strong, effective voice to win concrete changes for children.