Sending love: Weymouth's Valentines for Soldiers is back

WEYMOUTH – It's time to break out the construction paper, glue sticks and markers. The Weymouth Rotary Club is collecting Valentine's Day cards to send to military troops at bases across the country.

The Rotary's fourth annual Valentines for Soldiers event is spearheaded by former club president Alden Blaho, who also works with private schools in Weymouth to collect cards made by students.

"I'm a firm believer (in giving) our service people enough credit and enough thanks," Blaho said.

When he started the program, the club sent a few hundred cards to troops on bases across the country. This year, Blaho said he expects the Weymouth Rotary will distribute more than 2,000 cards in total.

The almost 20-year Rotary member began the valentines project as a way to thank those in the service, he said, while involving the community in the process. Weymouth students will make cards in school next week, and the club will host an in-person card-making event from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, at the Mad Hatter, 969 Washington St., Weymouth.

Registration for the event is required by 5 p.m. Friday and can be found at eventbrite.com.

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"I provide cardstock and markers and crayons and all kinds of stuff," Blaho said, though participants can also bring their own materials.

He said he's starting the valentines program so early to ensure there's enough time for students to create cards, for him to collect them and for mailing.

This year, St. Francis Xavier School, Sacred Heart School, St. Mary’s of the Hills, Fontbonne Academy, South Shore Christian Academy and the Old South Youth Group are participating, Blaho said.

The club tries to send cards to bases with connections to people participating in the program, Blaho said, and receive photos of the troops with their valentines.

Last year, cards were sent to troops in California, Washington, Illinois and Iraq, he said.

"It's something very small that could go a long way," Blaho said.

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Reach Alex Weliever at aweliever@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Valentines for Soldiers event with Weymouth Rotary