By Arthur Foulkes
TERRE HAUTE — A lot fewer people will have lonely hearts this Valentine’s Day, thanks to kids from YES.
A Terre Haute-based youth volunteer group, YES is delivering Valentine cards, gifts and “hugs” this weekend to more than 100 people with terminal illnesses in the Wabash Valley.
“I love every one of them,” said Dorothy Adams, a hospice patient living in Terre Haute who received several warm hugs and bright red Valentine presents Friday afternoon from YES volunteers.
“These kids and [other hospice care volunteers] are so loving,” she said. “It keeps me going.”
YES — Youth Embracing Service — was formed in 2007 by siblings Grant and Amanda Mansard, both students at Terre Haute South Vigo High School. The group, now with about 100 members, encourages young people to become involved in community service projects, such as the annual Valentine’s Day “You Have Been Hugged” campaign for people in hospice care.
“It’s great to be able to do another project like this,” Amanda said. “It definitely puts a smile on our faces, too.”
YES volunteers as well as volunteers and employees with Vistacare, a local hospice organization, are delivering Valentine’s Day hugs this weekend to about 125 people in nine west-central Indiana counties, according to a news release issued Thursday by YES.
The Valentine’s Day “hugs” include a balloon, a gift bag and Valentine’s Day cards made by students at Forest Park Elementary School in Brazil. Cookies and other treats in the gift bags were prepared by the Community Bible Church in Paris, Ill.
“It’s wonderful to see a bunch of kids like that,” said Dorothy Adams’ husband, Bob, speaking of the YES kids during their visit Friday afternoon.
Grant and Amanda Mansard formed YES when they were middle school students. In 2007, both received Indiana’s Rising Star Award from Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman.
“It gives you a good feeling inside,” Grant said Thursday, while he and other YES volunteers were assembling the Valentine gifts at the Vistacare offices on South Fourth Street in Terre Haute.
Other sponsors for “You Have Been Hugged,” now in its third year, include Terre Haute Regional Hospital and Springhill Village.
Many of the people receiving YES Valentine greetings this weekend have received earlier holiday visits from the group. This was the third Valentine’s Day visit to the home of the Adamses.
“The kids have been here every holiday,” Dorothy Adams said Friday. “I couldn’t live without it.”
For more information on YES, visit the organization’s Web site at www.youthem
bracingservice.org.
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
