Fall River: Valentines for the Troops

UPDATE: The event is now listed with the Providence Journal.

UPDATE 2: the event has been covered on a fuller basis in the Providence Journal!

1000 VALENTINES FOR THE TROOPS

Sign Up to Volunteer or Attend here!

FALL RIVER, Massachusetts—Save Our Neighborhoods, the City of Fall River, B.O.L.D., and Arts United has teamed together to sponsor a magical event in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which Congress has designated as a national day of service and reflection.

The organizations and the city are inviting children and folks of all ages to attend the 1000 Valentines for the Troops event, to be held at the CD Rec/Bank Street Armory, at 72 Bank Street in Fall River, MA, from 9 am until noon, on Monday, January 19, 2009.

All interested parties will be provided with materials (paper, markers, paint, hearts, etc.) to assist them in creating the groups’ goal of 1000 hand-made Valentines for the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, four large 3’X10′ blank banners will be available for decoration and well wishes.

The Valentines and banners will be shipped overseas to the troops serving in America’s two war zones, arriving in time for Valentines Day.

Save Our Neighborhood member Stefani Koorey was tapped by President Elect Barack Obama’s Inauguration Committee to organize a Fall River event. The call came late last week and Koorey has been hard at work putting to practice the grassroots organizing training she received at Camp Obama during the presidential campaign.

“I was trained in Boston at Camp Obama,” says Koorey, “on the nuts and bolts of grassroots organization. It is the most important aspect of any cause—meeting people and getting them as excited as you are about someone or an issue. You can’t do that by email or on the phone. You have to talk to folks face to face. Meet as many people as you can, and keep track of who they are so you can then phone them for their commitment. It’s all about people to people. And how we are really so very much alike in all the most important ways.”

“Everyone I meet to talk about this event is excited by the idea. It is wonderful to see how this effort can bring us all together on this very important day. The only thing I couldn’t arrange,” says Koorey, “is a donation of coffee and hot chocolate. So if anyone out there owns a coffee shop and would like to help, we would welcome your donation. Just call me!”

1000 Valentines for the Troops still needs volunteers to put up posters in local business and to assist at the event. Anyone who is interested in creating Valentines or messages of support for our troops is invited to attend.

For information, please contact Stefani Koorey at [email protected] or at 508-672-0099 for further information.