PENNEY FARMS—While Lani Havens read the news, she said she was bombarded with negativity about Springfield, Ohio.

The city has been the center of political discourse for months, especially regarding its Haitian immigrants. 

From bomb threats and school closures to the cancellation of its annual CultureFest, Havens said the unsettling stories were never-ending.

Despite the political division, Havens said she thought it necessary to unite people for one important cause—the children.

“I first thought, all this hate coming in, and it’s keeping these kids from trying to study at school and learn to be together as a community,” Havens said. ”It would be a good move to send some love.” 

 As a former executive director of Church World Service, the Peace Corps Director of the Center for Field Assistance and Applied Research, a teacher and a mother, Havens said she has had much experience making a difference in someone’s life.

So, rallying her community and gathering supplies, she got to work on her mission.

For about a month, Havens, along with the Penney Farms Retirement Community and Penney Memorial Church, have been hosting craft workshops dedicated to creating notes of affection and showing support.

“Children feel things through the artwork they make,” she said. “They bring home beautiful things for their parents. And that whole expression of sharing something visual and tangible that somebody else made for you. I think [that] is instilled in some of them.” 

In partnership with the Springfield City Youth Mission, which serves more than 600 elementary and middle school students yearly, the group has created and sent more than 300 decorative pink and red Valentine-like cards. The front of each spelling out many Haitian Creole phrases.

“I had one of the most wonderful times thinking of children opening and receiving them,” she said. “And we found a lot of Haitian greetings. The word for love, the word for sweetheart, the word for you’re beautiful and the word for you’re loved.” 

Havens said it’s incredible that a small group effort could have a considerable impact. 

She said they have already made plans to host future workshops, crafting more works of love for the children of Springfield. 

The group has created the "Valentines for Springfield Kids” Facebook page, which Havens said they would love to see more people get involved with. She said spreading the word and encouraging others to do the same is critical.

“Now is always the right time to let someone know they’re loved,” Havens said. 

If you want to mail a valentine, the address is P.O. Box 1603 Springfield, OH, 45501.