Have a Heart for Kids: Creative Event Ideas

Each February, volunteers across the country host events that connect the spirit of Valentine’s Day with advocacy for kids. Whether you’re a student, parent, teacher, or retiree — there’s a way to get involved and make an impact. 

🎨 Community & Creative Events 

• Valentine-Making Party: Host friends or classmates to make valentines for lawmakers. Add snacks and music for a fun vibe. 

• Cards & Cocoa Night: Set up a hot chocolate bar and craft station at your home, library, or community center. 

• Heart Banner Project: Create a giant banner that says “Have a Heart, Invest in Kids!” — take a group photo to post online. 

• Library Read-Aloud + Craft: Partner with a local library for a children’s story hour about kindness or learning, then make valentines afterward. 

• Coffee Shop Pop-Up: Set up a table at a local café — invite customers to decorate quick valentines while they wait for their drink. 

• Senior Center ‘Share the Love’ Day: Partner with a retirement home for intergenerational valentine-making with students or kids. 

• Faith-Based Fellowship Event: Combine after-service coffee hour with a table for making valentines. 

• Skate & Create: Host a valentine station at a skating rink or park — combine physical fun and advocacy! 

• Cookie-Decorating for a Cause: Make heart-shaped cookies, decorate them, and attach a Have a Heart message to each bag. Sell them to raise funds for your SCAN group and have folks sign a postcard at the table. 

• Chili Cook-Off or Soup Social: Invite neighbors for a cozy dinner party with a quick advocacy action mid-meal. 

🏠Family & Youth-Friendly Activities 

• Student Club Pop-Up Table: Set up a table in your cafeteria or quad to make valentines between classes. Make it a fun de-stress craft table for students to come enjoy in between classes! 

• Lunch & Learn Session: Combine snacks and storytelling — invite a teacher or alum to talk about why early education matters. 

• High School Art Challenge: Ask students to create valentines inspired by “What does a bright future for kids look like?” — feature them online. 

• Family Game Night: Host a family night with valentine bingo, trivia, or crafts — then take a photo for social media. 

• Community Potluck: Everyone brings a dish and decorates a valentine for their lawmaker before eating. 

• Storytime at Home: Families read books and make valentines afterward. 

• Neighborhood Drop Station: Put a decorated collection box in your library, church, or school lobby where people can drop off finished valentines. 

• Scout Troop Service Project: Scout troops can earn badges by hosting Have a Heart events that include both crafting and advocacy. 

🏛️ Advocacy & Political Action Events 

• Valentine Drop-Offs at Lawmaker Offices: Coordinate with your SCAN staff to deliver valentines in person. Take photos, wear red, and share online. 

• District Lobby Meetings: Pair valentines with a meeting to discuss policy priorities.  

• Advocacy Tour Day: Partner with other advocates to drop off valentines at all offices in your region on the same day — make it a mini ‘advocacy tour.’ 

• Tabling at Farmers Market or Community Fair: Set up a ‘Make a Valentine for Kids’ booth to engage passersby. 

• Library or School Display Board: Decorate a bulletin board with facts about early education. Have a QR code folks can scan to take action or a little drop box to collect signed postcards.  

• Valentine Photo Booth: Create a #HaveAHeart backdrop for people to take pictures and share online. 

• ‘Valentine to Congress’ Social Media Day: On Feb 14, flood Instagram and X with photos of valentines tagging your lawmakers and @SaveTheChildrenActionNetwork. 

• Virtual Valentine Zoom: Invite friends for a 30-minute online craft session and advocacy update — then mail valentines together afterward. 

🌟 Pro Tips for Volunteers 

• Mix fun with purpose — every event should include a short moment to explain why early childhood education matters. 

• Go visual — bright tablecloths, heart confetti, and posters make events more welcoming and photogenic. 

• Document everything — photos and quotes from guests help SCAN amplify your impact. 

• Invite all generations — kids love crafts, college students bring energy, and grandparents bring storytelling power. 

• Tag us! Use #HaveAHeart #InvestInKids and tag @SaveTheChildrenActionNetwork.