Many people associate Valentine’s Day with romantic love, but it offers an opportunity to share love with everyone – friends, family, and even community members.

The MSU Student Nursing Association (SNA) held an event on February 12 where students were invited to create handmade Valentine's cards for seniors at Advanced Rehabilitation and Healthcare of Wichita Falls. The SNA has hosted the event for the last three years. It’s an easy way to share the love with members of the community who may not receive it otherwise.

Abby Twilligear, the Operations Support Officer of the Student Nursing Association, said they were able to supply participants with cardstock paper, markers, and stickers to create the cards. She said nearly 200 cards were created at this year’s event! A member then personally delivers them to the facility, which then distributes them among the residents.

“We like to keep the supplies simple because we want the students to make their cards from the heart and with their imagination. It makes the cards more special for the residents,” Twilligear said.

Twilligear expressed how important she believes the event is because it benefits not only the residents the cards are made for, but also the individuals who make them. She said the experience allows people to see the impact they can make with even a small gesture, and it teaches people compassion. Additionally, she noted that the event is a great way to be more involved in the community – both on campus and in the greater Wichita Falls area.

The event also helps nursing students better connect to the field, as Twilligear explained. She said that it encourages empathy, which is a significant part of nursing because a person’s emotional well-being and physical well-being go hand in hand. She also said being involved in community care is an important part of the field as it nurtures trust, understanding, and overall community well-being.