On Sunday, February 14th at 1pm, Little Helpers invites Collierville community members – especially families and children – to bring a little love to the residents of Apple Grove Alzheimer’s and Dementia Residence.

For 30 minutes, you’ll be able to drop off Valentine’s Day cards and “forever flowers” for the residents in a socially distanced and safe manner! Facility director Kimily Taylor said, “We are always looking for cards, letters, flowers, craft projects, even baked goods, etc. for our seniors at Apple Grove Alzheimer’s residence. They currently have minimal contact with families due to COVID-19 so we truly need this for them.”

On Valentine’s Day, a basket labeled “Happy Valentine’s Day” will be at the entrance of the building, where you can place hand-made cards and “forever flowers.”  

“Forever flowers” are a fun DIY project for all ages that you can do at home. These are paper or silk flowers taped to sticks and are collected in a tin can, also decorated to look festive and fun. You can get as creative as you want with these – look at the photos below for inspiration! 

Flowers can be made using pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, kabob skewers or chopsticks. Children can color and cut out paper flowers from templates, and you can use hot glue guns or florist wire, as well as foam, decorative filler or paper straw to help secure the flowers in the tin can “vase.”  

When you come by to drop off your Valentine’s Day cards and “forever flowers,” children are also welcome to bring sidewalk chalk and draw hearts or sweet Valentine’s messages for residents to see through their windows. Just make sure to wear masks and keep socially distant from other families on the sidewalk!  

Little Helpers is hoping to have 32 flower pots and 96 cards ready for the residence, and they need your help! To commit to the project, visit their Facebook event here and comment how many flower pots and cards you can help them make. 

If you’d like to help but are unable to visit that day, or just want to learn more about the event, please message Kara Lee Newman Northcott, event coordinator, or Selena Silvestro for porch drop-off address in Collierville via the Facebook event. 

Little Helpers has been helping children help others since December 2010. The family volunteer group holds monthly service projects for children of all ages. The program is designed to help young people understand the value of volunteering, recognize the blessings in their lives, broaden their community perspective and feel the sense of accomplishment received from lending a helping hand. The ultimate goal of the program is to raise confident children who see giving back to the community as a normal aspect of their lives. Little Helpers was created in Memphis, but today has chapters across the country.