Valentine’s Day Remembered in the Foothills

By Ruth SOWBY

Love was in the air at the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge (CCLCF) on Saturday, Jan. 31. That’s where about 50 men, women, boys and girls met to make Valentine cards. Local nursing care residents will be the beneficiaries of the many missives.

According to Small Acts Big Change, which oversaw the activity, its executive director Carolyn Dundee said about 650 cards were expected to be completed on Saturday, the 14th consecutive year of the Valentine card activity at the Center.  A bin can also be found in the CCLCF lobby to collect more Valentine cards from local community groups. In total, an estimated 85,000 cards have been created and sent over the years. Small Acts Big Change partners with the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge to bring volunteer events to the community multiple times a year. 

Sisters Fiona, 10, (left) and Zoe Somawardhana, 7, show off their Valentine’s Day creations made at the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge. Photos by Ruth SOWBY

La Cañada resident Angela Somawardhana received an emailed announcement of the activity.  She brought daughters Fiona, 10, and Zoe, 7, along to participate.  

“My daughters love to craft,” she said.  

Fiona added, “I like helping people and making them happy.”    

About 650 Valentine cards were made in just 90 minutes by Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge volunteers. The cards will be given to local nursing care residents.
At 12 years old Lauren Dundee (now 26) with her sister Gracie founded the non-profit Small Acts Big Change. She and her mom Carolyn Dundee show off the bin that CCLCF has in the lobby to collect Valentine cards from local community groups.
Glendale resident Angelica Rybandt shows off the Valentine card she created.