On Valentine’s Day, State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) brought a great deal of joy to seniors in the 45th District when he and his staff delivered over 2,300 homemade valentines to seniors living in nursing homes and assisted living centers. The deliveries were part of the Senate Republicans’ annual Valentines for Seniors program.
Chesney’s 45th District includes portions of seven counties in Northwest Illinois.
“The response to my first annual Valentines for Seniors program exceeded all expectations, with over 3,200 valentines submitted by school, church, scouting, and 4-H groups and by residents who wanted to do their part to make local seniors feel appreciated,” said Chesney. “The smiles on the seniors’ faces were priceless, and I cannot thank the community enough for participating in this heartwarming project.”
Valentines were delivered to a total of 30 nursing homes, assisted living, and rehabilitation centers.
“Loneliness can be an issue for seniors, and through this program, they know they are valued and that people are thinking of them,” said Chesney. “I enjoyed meeting and talking with several seniors, and it was clear they were excited to receive well-wishes from people in their communities.”
The Valentines for Seniors program is a statewide annual event, and all 19 Republican Senators participated. This year’s statewide total of valentines collected and delivered was just under 60,000.
