Food & Friends recently had the opportunity to sit down with local student Patrick Kaufmann to discuss Valentines by Kids, his inspiring project that delivers thousands of heartfelt cards to neighbors across the region. What began as a small initiative at his middle school has become an annual tradition and his own nonprofit organization. With the help of students from schools across the DMV, Patrick has gathered Valentine’s Day cards to be delivered to clients of Food & Friends, as well as patients in local hospitals and residents of area nursing homes.
Partick’s project reminds us of the impact of spreading love and kindness in our communities. Client Services Advocate Zachary Henstrand spoke with Patrick about this amazing initiative, its evolution, and its effect on both the students involved and the recipients it’s served.
What inspired you to start this project in the first place?
“As you heard, it all started right here in this room at Food and Friends, when I was volunteering several years ago before we went upstairs to help pack the meals. There was an opportunity to create Valentine’s Day cards that would go with the meals, but we were only about 10 or 15 kids, so I didn’t think that everyone was going to receive one. Then I thought of asking schools, starting with my school, to help create Valentines so that everyone who may not receive one on Valentine’s Day can get one. And then every year it just expanded to more and more schools. More and more people are receiving it, and it’s been great.”
Why did you want to give back in such a meaningful way to our clients?
“Just making sure that people who maybe aren’t loved on Valentine’s Day, or feel like people have kind of forgotten about them, are still recognized in their community.”
How many cards do you plan to deliver this year?
“So for Food & Friends, we brought 2,000 cards, and in total, we have 47,000.”
What has surprised you most about how the project has grown?
“I thought it was just going to stay with my school honestly, that it was just going to be that and then stay small, my own project. But it really one year just doubled and then it just kind of kept going!”
Have you expanded to more schools and organizations?
“Yeah, definitely. Schools all around the DMV.”
We know our clients greatly appreciate your work and the work of the involved students. What has the reaction from other recipients of the cards been like?
“I’ve received a lot of letters and thank you notes. Also, some messages that it was really, really great to receive that Valentine and if it weren’t for that Valentine, they wouldn’t receive a single one, which is my exact goal for this whole project. So, I was super happy to hear about that.”
What have been some memorable moments from this project?
“Probably coming here every year is a memorable moment. And also seeing all the photos of people receiving the cards! Going to visit the schools and supervising the process of creating to see all their imagination go into making the cards. Also, my favorite team that I support is the Washington Capitals, and we went and visited a hospital with them on Valentine’s Day. That was definitely a completely memorable moment. I went with the players, and we delivered Valentine’s Day cards, and it was super great. Awesome experience.”
Were there any players in particular that you were excited about meeting?
“Yeah, definitely, the goalie was very very kind.”
What do you hope the students involved and the recipients of the cards take away from this experience?
“Just that anything is possible really.”
What would you say to other young people who want to do something impactful in their community?
“To go for their dreams, whatever their goal is, just to try and get it. Your family will support you. My dad has helped me a lot with this project. And your friends, everyone is going to support you. Just keep pushing. Never stop.”
What advice would you give yourself if you could go back to the first year of this project?
“Just to keep my mind, be open to suggestions and different ideas. I feel like I was just locked in on my ideas. Just to ask a lot of questions on what I can do better in the future.”
Any plans for you and the project coming up?
“Right now, I’m just continuing. We’ll see whether I continue this after high school. I haven’t decided yet, but I just want to keep continuing.”