The Hopkinton Lions Club organized efforts to support the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Valentines for Veterans 2021 program last month. The purpose of the VA’s National Salute to Veteran Patients Program, of which Valentines for Veterans is a part, is to pay tribute and express appreciation to veterans.

Volunteers, including Hopkinton Lions Club members and their families, members of the Hopkinton community and Hopkinton Girl Scout troops, participated in this year’s collection. Hopkinton Girl Scouts Senior Troop 65040, led by Laura Barry and Maureen Belger, organized the involvement of the Girl Scouts, which included Troops 83258, 79248, 75104, 62495, 62232, 85461, 79248 and 70613.

Participants prepared 274 homemade valentines cards and artwork, which were delivered to the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford by Lion and Navy veteran Bill Muench.

The Lions plan to expand the valentines program to include Hopkinton seniors next year.