It was a morning of heartfelt happiness and hundreds of acts of kindness—269 to be exact, when,  on Monday, January 19, nearly 100 community members gathered together to spend their morning making Valentine’s Day cards—well ahead of February 14.

From 9 to 11:30 a.m., Camp Fire Central Oregon hosted its annual Valentines for Veterans event at Bend Church–United Methodist in honor of MLK Jr. National Day of Service. The free volunteer opportunity brought together people of all ages to create handmade cards that were delivered on Valentine’s Day to veterans at two regional veterans hospitals—one in White City and one in Roseburg, Oregon.

Tables were set with cardstock, markers, stickers, and craft supplies provided by Camp Fire. Families, retirees, and Camp Fire youth participating in Teen Connects and No School Day Camp—since Bend–La Pine Schools were closed for the holiday—took seats and got to work. Teen Connects participants also joined in, using the day off from school as a chance to serve.

Over the course of the morning, volunteers produced hundreds of handwritten cards, each offering a simple message of appreciation and well-wishes.

“When you attend Valentine’s for Veterans, the entire focus is around connection, gratitude for those who’ve risked their lives for our country, and creativity—a very powerful, grounding combination of activities and impacts all coming together,” says Katie Roberts, Camp Fire Central Oregon’s outreach and communications manager. “We have community groups coming as teams, as well as individuals, families, and friends who show up because the tradition of honoring veterans is close to their hearts. As one mother wrote in a card on behalf of her two-year-old daughter who had drawn a cute picture, ‘My husband is serving overseas, and we know how special your sacrifice is.’ This gives many people a sense of purpose!”

In addition to crafting, attendees heard from guest speaker Dennis Guthrie, a local veteran who served as a parachutist in Vietnam, joined the special forces, attended medical school, and served as a U.S. Army medic. Guthrie spoke about his experience as a parachutist in the military and reflected on what efforts like this can mean to veterans. Guthrie also provided education around the different branches of service and the evolution of U.S. flags, surprising the kids with little flags and handouts about how the flag has changed over the years. Speaking of surprises, he also shared some personal Camp Fire facts:

“My sister went through Camp Fire, and my mother was a leader,” said Guthrie, who went through Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. “I really believe in youth activities like this!”

The goal of the event was straightforward: provide a tangible way for community members to participate in MLK Jr. National Day of Service while recognizing veterans in the region. Once completed, the Valentines were collected and organized for delivery on February 14.

This year, the effort also extended across town to Oregon State University–Cascades. Students participating in The Bridge program at the Bend campus started creating cards in recognition of MLK National Day of Service. They will work on cards throughout this month, and their cards will be saved for the 2026 Veterans Day Parade, when Camp Fire youth distribute them directly to veterans along the parade route.

Valentines for Veterans has become a consistent MLK Day activity for Camp Fire Central Oregon, combining a hands-on project with an accessible way for community members to volunteer together. By late morning, stacks of finished cards lined the tables—ready to be delivered in the weeks ahead!

Love how Camp Fire offers engaging opportunities for kids at No School Day Camps? Learn more about our upcoming No School Day Camps happening in Bend and South County this upcoming March!

See Valentine's for Veterans on Central Oregon Daily News!