WCTL-FM looking to heal hearts by delivering handmade valentines

Dana Massing, Erie Times-News
·2 min read

Someone out there needs your love, and WCTL-FM is ready to deliver it.

The Christian radio station in Waterford Township is holding its eighth annual Healing Hearts Valentine's Day Project. WCTL will collect your handmade valentines and distribute them to area nursing homes, senior living facilities and other agencies serving people in need in Erie and surrounding communities, organizers said.

"People love to help out," Lori Clapper, WCTL program director, said. "This is just an easy way to get all ages involved."

WCTL-FM radio show co-hosts Lori Clapper, left, and Dan Sheldon show off bags with some of the 9,000 handmade valentines collected in 2021 for WCTL's Healing Hearts Valentine's Day Project.
WCTL-FM radio show co-hosts Lori Clapper, left, and Dan Sheldon show off bags with some of the 9,000 handmade valentines collected in 2021 for WCTL's Healing Hearts Valentine's Day Project.

She said preschoolers can cut out hearts and decorate them with stickers. Adult efforts can, but don't have to, be elaborate.

"Just be creative and use what you have," Clapper said. "You don't have to be an artist to make a valentine."

She said what really counts is the kindness, effort, time and love put into the valentines.

WCTL collected about 9,000 for the project in 2021 and has delivered more than 30,000 since starting Healing Hearts in 2015, Clapper said.

The valentines should be handmade, not store-bought cards, and any individual, family or group can make them, organizers said. There is no particular format or design, although cards are typically no bigger in size than a typical sheet of construction paper. Candy or other kinds of food should not be included. The valentines don't need individual envelopes and it is up to the givers whether they want to sign their names or not.

On the air: WCTL debuts stronger signal, new morning show

The deadline to submit valentines is Feb. 7. One or more valentines can be placed in the same envelope and mailed to WCTL, 10912 Peach St., Waterford, PA 16441. Or they can be placed in an outdoor drop box at the radio station. Also included should be the number of valentines submitted and the name and address of the person or group donating them.

For more information, call 814-796-6000, ext. 105 or visit www.wctl.org/wctls-healing-hearts.

Contact Dana Massing at dmassing@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @ETNmassing.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Healing Hearts project: WCTL-FM collecting handmade valentines in Erie area