Mission: Valentine Triples Impact Around Town

This year, more than 450 cards were hand-made and delivered to residences and businesses around the Town of Chatham. 

Born in 2021, Mission: Valentine was developed as a project for the entire School community.  It was inspired by a tradition in Chaplain Barksdale’s family in which she accompanied her mother every year on the delivery of homegrown roses to the most vulnerable members of their community. 

“Coming out of COVID, our students wanted to reconnect with our local community,” Barksdale said. “Delivering hand-made valentine’s was the perfect personal gesture.”

Last week, making valentines was a priority for service leagues and campus clubs as the whole student body rallied around the mission. On Feb. 12 & 13, students mostly traveled by foot to deliver the cards to the Chatham community. A total of 467 cards were delivered over the course of two days including to a nearby rehabilitation center. This was well over the goal of 300, which in itself would have doubled last year’s total.

Ellery Blurton ‘24, this year’s Spiritual Life League president, said it was wonderful to meet several of the School’s neighbors and to speak with the residents of the Chatham Health and Rehabilitation Center. 

“We want our community to know how much we appreciate them,” Blurton said.  

Chatham Hall has also appreciated the outpouring of gratitude from valentine recipients, with many contacting the School to express their thanks.