In 2020, then 11-year-old Patrick Kaufmann was volunteering for a D.C. nonprofit that delivers meals to sick people and he made a few Valentine’s Day cards to include in the deliveries. This made him wonder who else might enjoy getting a card that might not otherwise get one. Before the next Valentine’s Day, he enlisted his classmates to help him make 300 cards for Food & Friends, a charity that delivers meals to D.C. residents fighting cancer and other serious illnesses.
Each year since then, Patrick’s efforts have grown. He launched his own charity Valentines By Kids The next year the number of cards grew to more than 3-thousand cards, then 16-thousand. And now this year, with help from students at 117 area schools, the 15-year-old Washington International School student is looking at collecting and distributing around 30-thousand cards!
“One of the nursing homes near my mom’s school received cards. And their faces were just … they were so happy. And they said that they had never received a Valentine. And it was just really special for them.”
Patrick expressed pride in the progress of his project and the positive impact it has on recipients, saying that receiving these cards brightens their day and makes them feel cared for. He hopes his dedication and commitment can serve as an example to encourage other young people to pursue their own charitable endeavors, even if they face challenges, reminding them that persistence can lead to positive outcomes.
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